February 10, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Fernando Gonzalez of Chile announced that he will retire after the Masters Tournament being held in Florida in March. Gonzalez is 31 years old and has reached as high as fifth in ATP rankings. The announcement comes after he says he no longer has the energy to play at such a high level with back, knee and hip injuries which have plagued him for several years.
Gonzalez has won 11 ATP events and three Olympic medals of gold, silver and bronze. In 2007, Gonzalez advanced to the finals of the Australian Open where he lost in straight sets to Roger Federer. At the 2009 French Open and twice in the U.S Open, Gonzalez reached the semifinals.
“I realized that I didn’t have the energy that I needed, nor am I prepared to do all I need to in order to be where I want to be,” Gonzalez said. “Given the respect tennis deserves, I have decided to step aside. Tennis has given me some incredible experiences, and I’ve met many admirable, wonderful people.”
