Wimbledon star who made fortune at SW19 in only one year retires aged just 28
Former Wimbledon star Tim van Rijthoven has stunned the tennis world by announcing his retirement at the age of 28. The Dutch player is stepping away from the sport just three years after testing Novak Djokovic at the All England Club.
Van Rijthoven's career peaked in 2022 when he claimed a series of high-profile victories as an underdog. Entering the Libema Open ranked 205th in the world, he received a wildcard and defeated top 20 players Taylor Fritz, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev en route to winning his sole ATP title.
His impressive performances continued at Wimbledon, where he faced the eventual champion Djokovic in the fourth round, earning £190k for his efforts. Reaching a career-high ranking of No. 101, persistent injuries have hampered Van Rijthoven's journey, leading to his decision to retire from professional tennis.
In an emotional social media post, Van Rijthoven wrote: "Dear all, with a heavy heart, today I have to share something that I have been trying to process for a long time. My professional tennis career is forced to end.
"Due to a stubborn elbow injury that, despite all rehabilitation and medical trips, fails to recover, I am forced to say goodbye to the sport I have lived my whole life. I wish I had seen it differently.
"I would like to say goodbye on my own terms, with a racket in hand and an audience in the stands. But sometimes the body decides differently than the head.
"Still, I look back with an incredible amount of pride and gratitude. From being a little boy in my mother's arms with big dreams to winning the Libema Open in 2022, my first ATP title, in front of my home crowd in Rosmalen - it will forever be one of the best moments of my life.
"And of course, the fourth round of Wimbledon, where I got the chance to compete against a living legend: Novak Djokovic on Centre Court. The fact that I was allowed on that stage is something that no one will ever take away from me."
Van Rijthoven's journey to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2022 marked his most impressive performance at a Grand Slam. Entering as a wildcard in his debut at the prestigious tournament, he sailed through his opening match against Argentina's Federico Delbonis in straight sets, but more significant victories were on the horizon.
In the second round, Van Rijthoven caused a stir by defeating American sensation and 15th seed Riley Opelka in four sets. He continued his remarkable run by knocking out Georgia's 22nd seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, setting the stage for a showdown with Djokovic. Despite claiming the second set, Van Rijthoven ultimately bowed out to the Serbian ace, who later clinched his seventh Wimbledon crown.
Injuries ultimately hindered Van Rijthoven's ascent, preventing him from cracking the top 100 in his career. He endured several injury setbacks, including a nine-month hiatus due to a back injury, and cited a persistent elbow problem as the reason for hanging up his racket.
Most recently, Van Rijthoven had been active in Challenger tournaments and ATP qualifying rounds. His last ATP appearances came at the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year, where he bowed out in the first qualifying rounds.
On social media, Van Rijthoven expressed gratitude to those who had helped him during his career: "I want to thank everyone who supported me on this journey: my family, team, coaches, physiotherapists, sponsors and fans.
"I don't know exactly what will happen next, but I know that my heart will always be with tennis. See you soon - maybe on the court, maybe not. Who knows."
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