A year doesn’t go by without a famous player saying goodbye to professional tennis. It’s a difficult step into the unknown for each of them. After years spent on the courts, on airplanes and in hotel rooms, suddenly they have much time on their hands. On the other hand, many of them don’t get bored in their sporting retirement.
When the American Andy Roddick said goodbye to tennis years ago, it was such a surprise that no one even asked what he wanted to do when he stopped circumnavigating the world of tennis courts. He declared that his dog would be the happiest about the decision.
Andy isn’t bored in retirement, however. Even as an active player, he was heavily involved in charitable organizations and hadn’t stopped even after the clay had been nipping at his heels. He also plays golf and is a regular commentator for various TV stations on the most important tennis tournaments.
Roddick is neither the first nor the last tennis player to deal with a new life. The following are 5 famous players and their “retirement” stories. Stay tuned!
A phenomenal Swedish tennis player wrapped up his professional tennis career in 1983 and subsequently pendulated between his two homes – Monte Carlo and one of the islands off the coast of Sweden. He had two unsuccessful marriages, sired one illegitimate child and made an unsuccessful attempt to return to the tennis circuit in 1990.
The setbacks didn’t last forever. He is now the happy owner of the fashion brand Björn Borg and an equally delighted husband. “It took me many years to come to terms with myself and figure out what I wanted to do,” he tells Britain’s The Guardian.
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