{"id":7136,"date":"2018-04-11T08:34:47","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T12:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=7136"},"modified":"2018-04-11T08:34:47","modified_gmt":"2018-04-11T12:34:47","slug":"dellacqua-retired-tennis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2018\/04\/11\/dellacqua-retired-tennis\/","title":{"rendered":"Casey Dellacqua Retires from Tennis"},"content":{"rendered":"

After 16 years of tennis ups and downs, injury and victory, Casey Dellacqua has announced her retirement. Citing a desire to spend time with her children, Dellacqua will be trading her racquet for rattles and spending time with her one-year-old daughter and four-year-old son. Partner Amanda Judd is the birth mother of both children. “I definitely feel like it’s the right time for me to hang up the racquets,” Dellacqua said in a video message posted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. “It’s time for me to be a mum, and it’s time for me to spend time with my family, particularly while my kids are young. It’s a precious time in life, and I really feel like it’s a time when I want to be at home with my family.” Her full message is on Facebook at\u00a0https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/caseydellacquatennis\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If Not for the Injuries<\/h3>\n

Dellacqua became an Australian sensation with her 2008 run to the Aussie Open quarterfinals.\u00a0It’s impossible to say what may have been had a 2009 shoulder surgery and a 2010 foot surgery not taken its toll on this Top 40 player.\u00a0Those injuries sidelined her for a combined 17 months, and after she had to use her protected ranking to enter tournaments. In 2015, Dellacqua fell and hit her head on the cement during the China Open, forcing her to withdraw from women\u2019s doubles competition. When healthy, Dellacqua has had some great runs. It kind of makes you wonder about her singles career had injury and accident not disrupted it.<\/p>\n

Definitely Doubles<\/h3>\n

Despite her run in 2008\u2019s Australian Open or her quarterfinal appearance at the 2014 BNP Paribas Open, Dellacqua has never ranked in singles Top 25, stopping at a high of World #26. Doubles is where Dellacqua has found her greatest success, ranking World #3 in doubles. She reached the doubles finals of all four Grand Slams, and she was runner-up in seven Grand Slam Women\u2019s Doubles finals.\u00a0Her mixed-doubles Grand Slam win came at the 2011 French Open, where she and American Scott Lipsky defeated Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic in three tight sets. Dellacqua holds seven WTA doubles titles, including one Premier Mandatory at the 2015 Mutua Madrid Open.<\/p>\n

Margaret Court Controversy<\/h3>\n

In 2013, fellow Aussie player and 24-time Major winner Margaret Court criticized the \u201clesbians in tennis,\u201d and went as far as to talk about transgender impact on children. Her heavy critique referencing Dellacqua\u2019s lifestyle and family went unchallenged until Dellacqua opened up last May.\u00a0Hurt by Court\u2019s comments, Dellacqua was clear that her family was not to be challenged and Court’s words were not appropriate.\u00a0Olympian John Millman and fellow Australian Sam Stosur gave support to Dellacqua\u2019s words and expressed concern over Court\u2019s comments. Controversy erupted over honoring Court with her name at the prominent Australian Open\u2019s venue, but in the end, 2018\u2019s Australian Open matches were still scheduled and played in Margaret Court Arena.<\/p>\n

Feeling the Love<\/h3>\n

After Dellacqua\u2019s Facebook post announcing her retirement, the outpouring of love and support was obvious.\u00a0Judy Murray called her<\/a> \u201ca National Treasure.\u201d Rajeev Ram said she<\/a> is \u201cAll Class.\u201d Kim Clijsters tweeted<\/a>, \u201cCongrats on a Great career and thank you for being an inspirational woman to so many.\u201d Miami Open tournament director James Blake acknowledged, \u201cThe sport was lucky to have you. In my opinion, you will always be remembered for competing the right way and showing respect.\u201d She leaves the sport with her peers recognizing her as a true champion, competitor, and friend.\u00a0It\u2019s obvious by the tweets that Casey Dellacqua is a truly loved tennis icon, Margaret Court’s opinions notwithstanding.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>