Krajinovic explains his retirement: "I have been suffering for a year and a half"

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 21 Aug 2024 | 23.42

Filip Krajinovic speaks about his retirement. Photo: Getty

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This US Open 2024 will undoubtedly be a special tournament due to the number of tennis players who will either hang up their racket or compete in New York for their last Grand Slam. One of those players bidding farewell is Filip Krajinovic. The 32-year-old Serbian player bid adieu to the racket sport after falling in the qualifying rounds, announcing it to the world through a post on his social media.

"I've been struggling for the past year and a half, pondering what to do. I wasn't satisfied with my form, with my body, and I wasn't playing at the level I wanted to compete," confesses the Serbian tennis player in an interview with the official ATP. "I dropped a lot in level. I decided to finish after the US Open. I was very, very sad, I couldn't even play. I was crying on the court because you spend your whole life playing and competing, so it wasn't easy to say goodbye, but at the same time, I'm happy to be free now."

Reasons for his retirement

"When you go down to play minor tournaments, the motivation isn't the same. I wasn't feeling good, I didn't have enough hunger. If you're not at 100%, there's no possibility of getting back to where I wanted to be. I felt like I wasn't enjoying it, I saw that I wouldn't reach where I wanted to, which was the Top 50," explains Filip now as a former tennis player. "I'm very, very proud of my career."

"The only thing that makes me a little sad is not having won any ATP titles. I had five finals, and all five were tough finals. That's the only thing I wanted but it didn't happen for some reason. I would sign everything else because I believe I played as I wanted. I had very good results, and my best ranking was 26th in the world, which I greatly appreciate. I left the court content because I think I did a good job," explains Krajinovic.

His beginnings

"It wasn't easy at all. I came to the United States at the age of 14 alone, without anyone. I went to the Academy and didn't know anything. I couldn't speak English, so that was my biggest problem when I arrived here. It was tough, but at the same time, it was something very, very good because I knew it was my opportunity to improve and train with those guys," recalls the Serbian.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Krajinovic explica su retirada: "Llevo sufriendo durante un año y medio"