Pospisil: "I am ready to turn the page, although I will miss him, I know it"

Streaming ATP Madrid live tennis

🎾 Sebastian Ofner vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry

1. Sign up with Bet365 here
2. Make your first deposit of at least €5
3. Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

 PUBLICIDAD

Register at bet365, deposit €5 or more into your account and you will receive 100% of your eligible deposit in Bet Credits (up to €100). New customers only. Terms apply. Winnings do not include the value of Bet Credits. Maximum prizes, game restrictions, time limits and terms apply. Registration required.

The moment has arrived. After nearly 20 years in the game, Vasek Pospisil will hang up his racket this week at the Toronto Masters 1000 to close a spectacular career within the circuit. Even though no one expects much from him now, it surely won't be easy for the Vernon tennis player to bid farewell to what has been his life since he was a child. Without knowing yet who his first-round opponent will be, for now, this Saturday he had to face the first test: the Media Day press conference. These were the words of a man who reached the top 25 in the world in both disciplines, winning some of the most important titles one can dream of.

Ready for the farewell

“I feel good, I am at peace with my decision. I am excited to step on the court one last time. I feel fortunate to do it in front of my friends and family, so it is the right place to end my career. As I said in the statement, this is the right time for me to go.”

No turning back

“It has been a very intense week, these last four or five days have really hit me, but I've known for months that I wanted to quit this week, even though now I have mixed emotions. I am definitely ready to turn the page, I can't wait for my career to be over, but at the same time, I know I will miss it. This has been almost my entire life, playing tennis and competing at the elite level since I was 18, but it is time.”

Growth of Canadian tennis

“Canadian tennis has changed a lot, you always have your role models. For example, Daniel Nestor was my role model in Canada as I was growing up, even though we didn't have too many players at the top. Obviously, that has changed a lot in the last 15 years, which is incredible. We have always been a nation of winter sports, at least historically, but that has changed in some way. For me, we are in a golden era of Canadian tennis, but we can't take it for granted because it can change at any moment. Tennis Canada is doing an amazing job, we have several young talents on the tour, so I think we are in good hands in the next ten years.”

His legacy on the circuit

“I want to be remembered as a good person, nothing more. As someone who was always honest and stood up for what he believed in, who competed hard and did the best he could every time I stepped on the court, whether for practice or a match. I think that's all I would like to leave as a legacy. I feel like I've always been true to myself, I always went out on the court with my heart on my sleeve, also in press conferences. For me, it was always better to be that transparent, it makes you genuine, be who you are, I hope they remember me that way.”

Lifeskills learned through tennis

“Tennis teaches you a lot, it's an incredible sport, very challenging to tackle, you have to commit from a very young age and sacrifice many things. It teaches you life lessons, maybe you learn things much earlier than other people, especially in an individual setting. You are like your own CEO, you learn from your mistakes, from tough moments, and you have to do it fast. If you don't, you'll fall behind and won't succeed, that's life. Everything you experience transcends into all areas of your life, in all your relationships. I am very fortunate to have learned so much, I think I have grown a lot as a person over all these years. I feel very prepared for what comes after tennis, being passionate about what you do will always give you an extra boost of energy, it gives you the opportunity to excel in whatever you choose to do.”

Three career memories

“The Wimbledon title and the Davis Cup hold the top two spots, without a doubt. In third place, I would choose my first time in Montreal, a very crazy and emotional week for me. It was my big breakthrough, my first big result on a grand stage, when you do something for the first time, it stays with you forever, so that memory involves many emotions for me.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pospisil: “Estoy listo para pasar página, aunque lo echaré de menos, lo sé”