Robin Soderling: Famous for being the first player to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open, Soderling reached a career-high No 4 and twice made the Roland Garros final. The Swede was forced to retire at 26 years old after battling glandular fever for four years. Pawan Singh / The National
Ashleigh Barty: The Australian announced her retirement at the age of 25 having spent 119 weeks as the world No 1 and after winning three Grand Slam titles. Barty won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles, including three Grand Slams, the last of which ended Australia's 44-year wait for a home-grown Australian Open champion. All photos: Getty Images
Jennifer Capriati: The American was a teenage phenomenon, breaking into the top 10 at just 14 years old. Capriati went on to win three Grand Slam titles and reached the top ranking in 2001. After being plagued with injuries, Capriati retired at the age of 28 after 14 singles titles.
Justine Henin: One of the greats of the modern era, Henin spent a total of 117 weeks as world No 1 and captured seven Grand Slam titles. She twice missed out on completing the set having reached two Wimbledon finals. Henin first retired in 2008 at the age of 25 before making a comeback, although injuries forced a second early retirement in 2011 when she was 28.
Martina Hingis: Few players in tennis history have burst onto the scene and dominated quite as quickly as Hingis. The Swiss won all five of her singles Grand Slam titles before turning 20 and spent 209 weeks as the world No 1. Hingis was only 22 when she announced her first retirement in 2003 and after returning to the tour, retired again in 2007 at the age of 27 after failing a drug test. Hingis returned in 2013 as a doubles specialist and would add another 10 major titles to her collection. In all, she won 25 Grand Slams across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Bjorn Borg: The most dominant male player of the 1970s and early 80s, Borg won 11 Grand Slam titles (six at the French Open, the other five at Wimbledon) and became the biggest tennis star of his generation. He could, perhaps should, have won a lot more but the Swede hung up his racquet at the age of 26.
Marion Bartoli: The former world No 7 became a Grand Slam champion at Wimbledon in 2013, and the following month announced her retirement at the age of 28, citing mounting injury problems.
Andrea Jaeger: A classic case of what might have been - Jaeger reached a career high No 2 in the world rankings and made the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon (plus the semi-finals of the Australian and US Opens). However, her career was cut short by a shoulder injury and the American was forced to retire at 19 years old.
Mario Ancic: The Croatian was one of the most exciting talents to emerge in the men's game and reached a career-high No 7 in the rankings. Ancic's best Grand Slam performance came at Wimbledon in 2004 when he reached the semi-finals but he was forced to retire at 26 years old after struggling to overcome a severe bout of glandular fever.
Marat Safin: One of the biggest male tennis stars at the turn of the century, Safin won two Grand Slam titles and reached the top of the rankings. A player of immeasurable talent, the Russian was known as much for his party lifestyle as his tennis and decided to walk away from the game at 29.
Rene Lacoste: One of the most iconic players in history, Lacoste burned bright in the 1920s, winning seven Grand Slams and two Davis Cup titles in a four-year stretch. The Frenchman retired at the age of 24 due to health problems and would go on to create the Lacoste clothing brand.
Guillermo Coria: Perhaps best known for throwing away a two-set lead in the 2004 French Open final when the overwhelming favourite, Coria achieved much more in the game and reached No 3 in the rankings. After a career that included a doping suspension, the yips, and nine titles, the Chilean walked away in 2009 at 27 years old.
Ana Ivanovic: The Serb reached the pinnacle of tennis and spent a total of 12 weeks as world No 1, with her lone Grand Slam title coming at the 2008 French Open. Ivanovic called time on her career in December 2016 at the age of 29, citing health setbacks as the main reason.
Caroline Wozniacki: The Dane was one of the most successful players of her era, winning 30 singles titles and spending 71 weeks as the world No 1. She ended her wait for a major title by winning the 2018 Australian Open. Wozniacki retired soon after the start of the 2020 season at the age of 29, stating she wanted to focus on starting a family and working to raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis - which she herself suffers from.
Robin Soderling: Famous for being the first player to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open, Soderling reached a career-high No 4 and twice made the Roland Garros final. The Swede was forced to retire at 26 years old after battling glandular fever for four years. Pawan Singh / The National
Ashleigh Barty: The Australian announced her retirement at the age of 25 having spent 119 weeks as the world No 1 and after winning three Grand Slam titles. Barty won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles, including three Grand Slams, the last of which ended Australia's 44-year wait for a home-grown Australian Open champion. All photos: Getty Images
Jennifer Capriati: The American was a teenage phenomenon, breaking into the top 10 at just 14 years old. Capriati went on to win three Grand Slam titles and reached the top ranking in 2001. After being plagued with injuries, Capriati retired at the age of 28 after 14 singles titles.
Justine Henin: One of the greats of the modern era, Henin spent a total of 117 weeks as world No 1 and captured seven Grand Slam titles. She twice missed out on completing the set having reached two Wimbledon finals. Henin first retired in 2008 at the age of 25 before making a comeback, although injuries forced a second early retirement in 2011 when she was 28.
Martina Hingis: Few players in tennis history have burst onto the scene and dominated quite as quickly as Hingis. The Swiss won all five of her singles Grand Slam titles before turning 20 and spent 209 weeks as the world No 1. Hingis was only 22 when she announced her first retirement in 2003 and after returning to the tour, retired again in 2007 at the age of 27 after failing a drug test. Hingis returned in 2013 as a doubles specialist and would add another 10 major titles to her collection. In all, she won 25 Grand Slams across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Bjorn Borg: The most dominant male player of the 1970s and early 80s, Borg won 11 Grand Slam titles (six at the French Open, the other five at Wimbledon) and became the biggest tennis star of his generation. He could, perhaps should, have won a lot more but the Swede hung up his racquet at the age of 26.
Marion Bartoli: The former world No 7 became a Grand Slam champion at Wimbledon in 2013, and the following month announced her retirement at the age of 28, citing mounting injury problems.
Andrea Jaeger: A classic case of what might have been - Jaeger reached a career high No 2 in the world rankings and made the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon (plus the semi-finals of the Australian and US Opens). However, her career was cut short by a shoulder injury and the American was forced to retire at 19 years old.
Mario Ancic: The Croatian was one of the most exciting talents to emerge in the men's game and reached a career-high No 7 in the rankings. Ancic's best Grand Slam performance came at Wimbledon in 2004 when he reached the semi-finals but he was forced to retire at 26 years old after struggling to overcome a severe bout of glandular fever.
Marat Safin: One of the biggest male tennis stars at the turn of the century, Safin won two Grand Slam titles and reached the top of the rankings. A player of immeasurable talent, the Russian was known as much for his party lifestyle as his tennis and decided to walk away from the game at 29.
Rene Lacoste: One of the most iconic players in history, Lacoste burned bright in the 1920s, winning seven Grand Slams and two Davis Cup titles in a four-year stretch. The Frenchman retired at the age of 24 due to health problems and would go on to create the Lacoste clothing brand.
Guillermo Coria: Perhaps best known for throwing away a two-set lead in the 2004 French Open final when the overwhelming favourite, Coria achieved much more in the game and reached No 3 in the rankings. After a career that included a doping suspension, the yips, and nine titles, the Chilean walked away in 2009 at 27 years old.
Ana Ivanovic: The Serb reached the pinnacle of tennis and spent a total of 12 weeks as world No 1, with her lone Grand Slam title coming at the 2008 French Open. Ivanovic called time on her career in December 2016 at the age of 29, citing health setbacks as the main reason.
Caroline Wozniacki: The Dane was one of the most successful players of her era, winning 30 singles titles and spending 71 weeks as the world No 1. She ended her wait for a major title by winning the 2018 Australian Open. Wozniacki retired soon after the start of the 2020 season at the age of 29, stating she wanted to focus on starting a family and working to raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis - which she herself suffers from.
Robin Soderling: Famous for being the first player to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open, Soderling reached a career-high No 4 and twice made the Roland Garros final. The Swede was forced to retire at 26 years old after battling glandular fever for four years. Pawan Singh / The National
