Tennis

Retiring Safarova set for Prague swansong

After missing out on the Australian Open due to injury, Lucie Safarova will play her final tournament at the Prague Open in April.

Rob Lancaster
20 March, 2019 10:03 IST

Lucie Safarova in action at Wimbledon.   -  Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Rob Lancaster
20 March, 2019 10:03 IST

Lucie Safarova will play her final tournament at the Prague Open in April, the former world number five has announced.

The 32-year-old revealed last November that she was planning to retire after this year's Australian Open, citing health issues as the main reason behind her decision.

However, Safarova – who lost to Serena Williams in the 2015 French Open final – was unable to compete in Melbourne due to wrist tendinitis.

READ: No trophy, no regrets as Federer departs Indian Wells for Miami

Now the Czech will instead make her swansong appearance on home soil, confirming her plan to appear in Prague – where she is a three-time champion – via an Instagram post.

"I'm happy to announce that I will be playing the Prague tournament as my farewell with Czech fans!" she wrote.

Safarova will also renew her doubles partnership with Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the event, the duo won 11 titles, including five grand slams, between 2015 and 2017.