Follow us on Google Discover The 2025 tennis season has seen some incredible returns, mainly on the WTA Tour.
In July, the Washington Open was headlined by Venus Williams’ comeback to the sport, having spent over a year away, with the American legend going on to compete at the Cincinnati Open as well as the US Open.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova also played for the first time this year after taking the entirety of the 2024 season off due to the birth of her first child.
Now, a former Wimbledon finalist, who was set to take to the courts after almost two years, has delayed her return.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesSabine Lisicki discusses return to tennis and retirement
Sabine Lisicki, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2013, was set to feature at a WTA 125 tournament in Mallorca this week, but withdrew as she did not feel ready yet.
Lisicki last played at an ITF event in Dubai in December of 2023, and was hoping to play again on the Spanish island a year after giving birth.
As per RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, the German said: “I haven’t thought for a second about ending my career because of my pregnancy.
“I want to end my career the way I imagine it and at a time I feel comfortable with. I don’t want my retirement to be determined by external circumstances. I just want to feel like it’s the right time. I think you can tell then.
“I’m the one who puts the most pressure on myself anyway. I’m ambitious and I’m pushing myself, and then we’ll see when the time is right for my comeback.”
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesSabine Lisicki’s route to the 2013 Wimbledon final
Lisicki’s 2013 Wimbledon run began with two comfortable victories over Francesca Schiavone and Elena Vesnina, before knocking out 14th seed Samantha Stosur.
In the fourth round, she clinched the biggest win of her career, defeating the defending champion, Serena Williams, in three sets.
After triumphing over Williams, Lisicki beat Kaia Kanepi and fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska to advance to the final, where she met Marion Bartoli.
Despite her best efforts, she could not find an answer for Bartoli in the championship match, losing in straight sets.