Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer announces retirement

Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer announced Tuesday that she will retire from the game.

The 29-year-old — once ranked 11th in the world, the highest for any Israeli tennis player — told Channel 2 news that she was leaving the court for good.

Peer said she sat on her bed and cried when she made the decision, adding that she was looking forward to life after professional sports.

During her career, Peer won five international competitions and reached the quarter finals of Grand Slam contests in Australia and the US.

She also represented Israel at two Olympic tournaments.

On her Facebook page, Peer wrote, “I want to share with you one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my life. After 23 years, 13 of which I was an international professional tennis player, I am retiring.

“I made this decision following a chronic inflammation in my shoulder that has lasted for more than two years and prevents me from competing at the high level that I am used to and expect of myself,” she wrote.

“At the same time, I lost my desire for the game of tennis and the intense way of life I have lived since I was six and a half years old.

“I look back on this experience with a huge smile, a lot of happiness and satisfaction. I am proud of all of my accomplishments as well as the huge honor I was given to represent the State of Israel,” she concluded.