Five-Time Grand Slam Champion Maria Sharapova Says Goodbye To Tennis

Russia's five-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova has announced her retirement at the age of 32.

In an essay written for Vogue and Vanity Fair on Wednesday, Sharapova said: "Tennis -- I'm saying goodbye."

"How do you leave behind the only life you've ever known? How do you walk away from the courts you've trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love and brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys," she wrote.

"The first courts I ever played on were uneven concrete with faded lines. Over time, they became muddy clay and the most gorgeous, manicured grass your feet could ever step upon. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever win on the sport's biggest stages -- and on every surface," Sharapova continued.

Maria Sharapova kisses the trophy after winning her first major title at Wimbledon on July 3, 2004. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

She lost in the first round of this year's Australian Open to Croatia's Donna Vekic in straight sets. She played only two matches this season and lost both.

"In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life. I'll miss it everyday. I'll miss the training and my daily routine: Waking up at dawn, lacing my left shoe before my right, and closing the court's gate before I hit my first ball of the day. I'll miss my team, my coaches. I'll miss the moments sitting with my father on the practice court bench. The handshakes -- win or lose -- and the athletes, whether they knew it or not, who pushed me to be my best," Sharapova wrote.

"Throughout my career, Is it worth it? was never even a question. In the end, it always was."