Ross Hutchins has today announced his retirement from tennis.
The announcement comes just over a week after Hutchins, 29, came agonisingly close to reaching the US Open mixed doubles final with his partner Yung-Jan Chan 25.
Speaking to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Hutchins said: “It is with a heavy heart that today I announce my retirement from professional tennis.
“After much deliberation I feel it is the right time for me to stop playing professional sport and pursue new goals as I enter the next phase of my career.”
Hutchins, from Wimbledon, is also affectionately known to tennis fans as being Andy Murray’s best friend.
Murray even went so far as to dedicate his Brisbane International victory in 2013 to him.
Hutchins retires having recently returned to the sport having overcome cancer.
The tennis star was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2012 and was in remission in July 2013.
He returned to tennis in January 2014 and took part in many tournaments culminating in his semi-final defeat at the US Open.
Hutchins and Yung-Jan Chan led the first set 5-0 before losing seven games in a row.
They managed to win the second set before going down 10-7 in the tiebreak of the deciding set.
Hutchins is most renowned as a doubles star and his performance in this year’s US Open is the closest he has come to grand slam glory.
His titles include the China Open men’s doubles in 2008 and the Open Sud de France men’s doubles in 2011.
He found most success in doubles with fellow Brit Colin Fleming, 30, winning the St Petersburg Open, the Delray Beach International Tennis Championship and the Aegon International.
The Wimbledon native also won silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Doha.
Britain’s Davis Cup captain, Leon Smith, led the tributes to Hutchins today.
He told the LTA: “On behalf of everybody within British tennis, we send our huge congratulations to Ross as he brings the curtain down on his tennis career.
“Ross has been a stalwart of our sport for over a decade, having won five ATP doubles tournaments and competed in seven Davis Cup ties.
“He has been an incredible role model in every way possible, from the way he trained to the way he looked after himself in order to reach his potential.”
Hutchins will continue to play a role in tennis as he takes on other roles within the sport and has been appointed tournament director of the Aegon Championship at Queen’s.
Image courtesy of British Tennis LTA via YouTube, with thanks
