She made the announcement via Instagram where she reveals that she has been diagnosed with lumbar disc degeneration in her back. This prevents her from training and playing at a serious level.
She will be leaving after one final hurrah at Wimbledon in July.
In her announcement, she said:
Today I am announcing that I am ending my career as a competitive athlete.
After several doctors visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back.
This does not allow for full-scale training or continued competition. Therefore, it is impossible to continue at the top level in such a highly competitive field. Tennis has given and taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that.
Kontaveit is from Estonia, she said:
It has been important for me to bring the Estonian flag to the tennis courts and to be able to play in front of my supporters and fans all over the world.
I am ready for new challenges after my last effort as a professional tennis player to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon.
The 27-year-old has made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2020. She was also in the finals of the 2021 WTA Tour Finals.