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Tennis: Vernon's Vasek Pospisil retires with 'no regrets', but stays in fight to protect players
Tennis: Vernon's Vasek Pospisil retires with 'no regrets', but stays in fight to protect players

National Post

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • National Post

Tennis: Vernon's Vasek Pospisil retires with 'no regrets', but stays in fight to protect players

Vasek Pospisil was always up for a good fight on the court, or off it. Article content Whether competing against Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) elite, fighting for players' rights to combat suppressed earnings and off-court opportunities, or growing the game in his home province, the Vernon native met challenges with vigour. Article content Article content The 35-year-old Pospisil is retiring after accomplishments that include a 2014 Wimbledon doubles title, helping Canada capture the 2022 Davis Cup crown, and a string of strong singles and doubles finishes on the Grand Slam circuit. Article content He received a main draw wild-card entry for the National Bank Open in Toronto next weekend for his final farewell. Pospisil, who turned pro in 2007, rose to a No. 4 raking in doubles (2015) and No. 25 (2014) in singles and finished with US$7.2 million in career earnings. He also endured a lot of pain. A trio of elbow tears, herniated disk surgery in 2019, and then another back setback last summer, in the long grind to keep mind and body in sync. Article content 'There can always be a little bit of bittersweet, no question about it,' Vasek told Postmedia on Sunday. 'Tennis has been my whole life and all I ever wanted to do, and there's going to be a little difficulty saying goodbye, but I'll keep it in perspective. I'm ready to move on to the next thing. There's so much I want to do. Article content 'The last three or four years have been very tiring and it's quite safe to say I'm burned out to a point where I'm not getting as much enjoyment out of training or being on the court. It's incredibly exhausting, and all year long, you're always on and always travelling. Article content 'A lot of times, it's a very lonely sport with enormous stress. Eventually, that weighs on you and burns you out. I definitely feel like a shell of the player I was. The injuries played a huge factor especially the last three years. It gets very discouraging and you have to be realistic.' Article content However, it's also rewarding, if you put in the time to get to a rare level, and have the will to press on as the career clock ticks. Article content Pospisil advanced to the Wimbledon singles quarterfinal (2015), fourth round of the U.S. Open (2020), and third round of the Australian Open (2014, 2015). In doubles, he also made the quarterfinals in the French Open (2015), Australian Open (2016) and third round of the U.S. Open (2013, 2014). Article content It spoke to longevity and longing to always get his game to the next level. Does Pospisil believe he left it all out on the court and did the best under different circumstances? Article content 'I do,' he stressed. 'Until 2022, I did everything I could. I left no stone unturned and confident to say I have no regrets.'

Canada's Vasek Pospisil to retire at National Bank Open in Toronto: 'The right time'
Canada's Vasek Pospisil to retire at National Bank Open in Toronto: 'The right time'

National Post

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • National Post

Canada's Vasek Pospisil to retire at National Bank Open in Toronto: 'The right time'

Vasek Pospisil is planning to retire after the upcoming National Bank Open. Article content The 35-year-old from Vernon, B.C., received a main-draw wild card on Monday for the event in Toronto for his final farewell. Article content Article content 'It's never easy making a decision like this,' Pospisil said in a release. 'Tennis has been a huge part of my life, but it has become clear, both mentally and physically, that it's the right time to step away. Article content 'I feel incredibly grateful to have had the career I've had, especially coming from a small town where this dream once felt so far away. While I'm genuinely excited for what's next, there will always be a part of me that misses the sport and everything it's given me.' Article content Pospisil won six doubles titles on the ATP Tour, including Wimbledon in 2014 and at Indian Wells in 2015. He achieved career-high rankings of No. 25 in singles (2014) and No. 4 in doubles (2015). Article content Pospisil represented Canada twice at the Olympic Games (London 2012 and Rio 2016). Article content He also represented Canada numerous times at the Davis Cup since his debut in 2008. Pospisil played in 35 ties and earned 33 wins, helping Canada capture its first title in 2022. Article content Pospisil co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2019 with Novak Djokovic. The PTPA is a player-led organization that represents professional tennis players, particularly those who are independent contractors. Article content The organization filed an antitrust lawsuit against the women's and men's tours in March, alleging the organizations that run the sport hold 'complete control over the players' pay and working conditions' and their setup constitutes anticompetitive practices that are 'textbook violations of state and federal law.' Article content

Pospisil retiring on home ground at National Bank Open in Toronto
Pospisil retiring on home ground at National Bank Open in Toronto

Globe and Mail

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Globe and Mail

Pospisil retiring on home ground at National Bank Open in Toronto

Vasek Pospisil is planning to retire after the upcoming National Bank Open. The 35-year-old from Vernon, B.C., received a main-draw wild card on Monday for the event in Toronto for his final farewell. 'It's never easy making a decision like this,' Pospisil said in a release. 'Tennis has been a huge part of my life, but it has become clear, both mentally and physically, that it's the right time to step away. 'I feel incredibly grateful to have had the career I've had, especially coming from a small town where this dream once felt so far away. While I'm genuinely excited for what's next, there will always be a part of me that misses the sport and everything it's given me.' Pospisil won six doubles titles on the ATP Tour, including Wimbledon in 2014 and at Indian Wells in 2015. He achieved career-high rankings of No. 25 in singles (2014) and No. 4 in doubles (2015). Pospisil represented Canada twice at the Olympic Games (London 2012 and Rio 2016). He also represented Canada numerous times at the Davis Cup since his debut in 2008. Pospisil played in 35 ties and earned 33 wins, helping Canada capture its first title in 2022. Pospisil co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2019 with Novak Djokovic. The PTPA is a player-led organization that represents professional tennis players, particularly those who are independent contractors. The organization filed an antitrust lawsuit against the women's and men's tours in March, alleging the organizations that run the sport hold 'complete control over the players' pay and working conditions' and their setup constitutes anticompetitive practices that are 'textbook violations of state and federal law.' Pro tennis tours file motion to dismiss antitrust lawsuit from Djokovic's players' association He is the second Canadian tennis veteran to announce a retirement at the NBO after 2014 Wimbledon finalist and former world No. 5 Eugenie Bouchard said she will wrap up her career at the women's tournament in Montreal. The NBO tournaments are set to run from Saturday to Aug. 7.

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