Tennis great's 'beautiful' moment after retirement call
Spanish great Carla Suarez Navarro received a standing ovation at the US Open after announcing it would be her last single's Grand Slam match following her stunning return to the Tour.
The former World No.6 left fans shocked and saddened in September last year after revealing that she'd been diagnosed with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma and would need to go through six months of chemotherapy.
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Despite the terrifying ordeal, the two-time French Open quarter-finalist announced she would be making her tennis comeback.
After her Roland Garros and Wimbledon campaign, Navarro entered the US Open knowing it would be her last Grand Slam single's match.
And the adored tennis star, known for her fierce competitiveness and one-handed backhand, fell in the First Round American star Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-4.
Despite the loss, fans offered Navarro one last ovation as she exited the US Open single's draw.
The tennis community rallied around Navarro, hailing her comeback to tennis after such a horrible ordeal in 2020.
Carla Suarez Navarro gets a beautiful moment from the Court 5 crowd as she finishes her (singles) career at the #USOpen
Two QFs in 13 appearances — and a heart and demeanor that is adored across the sport pic.twitter.com/auxvFFPcA1— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) August 30, 2021
Big applause on Court 5 for Carla Suarez Navarro as she walks off after 6-2, 6-4 1st round loss to USA's Danielle Collins, who's been in strong form
Suarez, back after Hodgkin's lymphoma, has said this was her last Grand Slam tournament. The tour will miss her & her 1-hander pic.twitter.com/s3f04nwlmw— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) August 30, 2021
In form Danielle Collins ends Carla Suárez Navarro's Grand Slam career with a 6-2, 6-4 win to reach the 2nd round of the #USOpen.
"Good luck in the doubles", Danielle said after the match.
Very good performance. pic.twitter.com/BYry7c1pP1— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 30, 2021
Carla Suarez Navarro's Grand Slam career has come to an end with a 2-6, 4-6 defeat to Danielle Collins.
She was twice a quarterfinalist at the US Open & reached seven Grand Slam QFs in all. One of the great unassuming competitors.— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) August 30, 2021
12mos ago, Carla Suárez Navarro was in the hospital after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Now, after playing her final singles match, she’s full of gratitude.
“This year was a gift. Last year on these dates, I don't know if I can be here one more time or not.” #USOpen— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 30, 2021
At the net, Collins reportedly told Navarro "good luck in the doubles", which will be her last event.
Carla Navarro's incredible tennis comeback
Last year, Navarro announced she would return to the WTA Tour after overcoming her cancer battle.
"It makes me tremendously excited to be able to participate in Roland Garros," she said on the website of the Spanish tennis federation.
"I have been working these last few months to give myself the opportunity to compete one last time in Paris.
"I am looking forward to jumping on to the court and feeling again how special this tournament has always been for me."
Navarro returned to practice in December last year after she had completed her treatment and was cured.
She had said in late 2019 that she intended to quit at the end of 2020 but now wants to keep playing after her final season was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and her health battle.
The two-time French Open quarter-finalist, known for one of the best backhands in the women's circuit, had planned to compete at last year's US Open but withdrew a week before the grand slam was set to begin.
She revealed her diagnosis a week later, saying doctors told her she had a small, curable lymphoma that was detected at an early stage.
However, Navarro overcame the cancer to return to the tour in 2021.
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