Yanina Wickmayer Retires After Two Decades in Professional Tennis

ST. PETERSBURG — Yanina Wickmayer, a prominent figure in women's tennis and a five-time singles champion, officially retired from professional tennis following her last singles match at Wimbledon. The 35-year-old Belgian announced earlier this year that The Championships would be her final tournament, bringing an illustrious career that spanned two decades to a close. Wickmayer played her final singles match on June 30, 2025, where she faced Renata Zarazua of Mexico in the first round, but remains eligible for doubles competition alongside Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova.

Wickmayer burst onto the professional scene in 2004, making her WTA qualifying debut in Hasselt, Belgium. Her breakthrough year came in 2009, when she not only captured her first two WTA singles titles in Estoril and Linz but also reached the semifinals of the US Open, losing to Caroline Wozniacki. That year, she was honored with the WTA’s Most Improved Player award and achieved her career-high ranking of No. 12 on April 19, 2010. Over her career, Wickmayer contested 11 Tour-level singles finals and claimed titles across various surfaces, with her later victories occurring in Auckland (2010), Tokyo (2015), and Washington, D.C. (2016).

In addition to her singles successes, Wickmayer also excelled in doubles, having won three titles in this category, the most recent being at the Warsaw Open in 2023 with partner Heather Watson. Notably, she has been a consistent presence in the Top 100 rankings, maintaining this status for nine consecutive seasons from 2008 to 2016. Throughout her career, Wickmayer has attained five wins over Top 10 opponents, including Grand Slam champions such as Li Na, Petra Kvitova, and Marion Bartoli.

Wickmayer's contributions extend beyond her individual accolades; she shares the record for the most singles wins in Billie Jean King Cup play for Belgium, tallying a record of 25 wins against 10 losses. With a career win-loss record of 535-373 and over $6 million in prize money, Wickmayer's legacy in the sport is well established.

As she embarks on her next chapter, Wickmayer, who became a mother to her daughter Luana in April 2021, looks forward to new opportunities outside of professional play. Her impact on Belgian tennis and the WTA will be felt for years to come, highlighting the contributions and challenges faced by female athletes in a competitive environment.

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) acknowledges Wickmayer's achievements and contributions to the sport, celebrating her as an integral part of tennis history. As the tennis community bids farewell to a remarkable player, Wickmayer's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes around the world.