ATP World Tour

Nikolay Davydenko announces retirement

ESPN staff

October 16, 2014

Nikolay Davydenko won the inaugural Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title at The O2 in 2009 © AP

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Former World No.3 Nikolay Davydenko says he enters retirement with no regrets at the age of 33.

The Russian, who has won six matches in 2014 while battling with a back injury, called time on his 15-year career at a press conference at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

"I won 21 ATP World Tour tournaments, including three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London," said Davydenko, who last played at Roland Garros in May.

"I don't have any regrets about not winning a grand slam or not being No.1 in the world. I was in the top 10 for some years."

Davydenko reached four grand slam semi-finals and produced a career-defining season in 2009, when he followed up a third Masters 1000 title in Shanghai with victory at the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2.

He was investigated over match-fixing claims in 2007 by the ATP but cleared of any wrong-doing the following year.

The Russian, who also won the Davis Cup in 2006, decided to retire after losing to Robin Haase in the first round of this year's French Open, and plans to pursue a career in business and finance.

"I felt I could not play at the level I used to play at. I practised twice a day, but I felt I couldn't achieve the result I wanted. But I was waiting for the moment when I would wake up and say to myself it was enough."

ESPN staff