«I am grateful to tennis for everything»: Zarina Diyas announced her retirement
A touching farewell ceremony for one of the most iconic tennis players of Kazakhstan took place in Astana. Zarina Diyas announced her retirement from professional tennis prior to the second day of the qualification of the Billie Jean King Cup against the national team of Canada.
The farewell procedure was truly emotional. Video messages from the global tennis stars, acknowledgements from colleagues and applauses of the fans forced Zarina to dash away tears more than once. The former World No. 31, whose career stands as a testament to hard work and resilience, leaves the tour, leaving a legacy.
The Price of Success and the Rat Race
At her final press conference, Zarina was exceptionally candid. Her decision to retire was not a spontaneous one - it was dictated by the years of colossal exertion.
«This is endless trainings, enormous flights every week, stress and pressure. Physically, it was getting harder and harder. Tennis is a race that never ends, and at a certain stage, you realize it is time to stop», - the athlete declared.
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Diyas recalled that she enjoyed the taste of victory very early: she won the first prizes when she was 9 years old, and the World Championship in the USA at 16 years old. This early self-efficacy helped her to achieve WTA title in Tokyo and the fourth rounds of the Grand Slam tournaments.
Friendship means more than titles
Despite her image of a private and focused player, Zarina recognized that tennis has given her not only regalia but also closed ones. Among those who sent warm words were Arina Sobolenko and Anastassiya Pavlyuchenkova. «We trained in the same academy for years. We are competitors on the court, but we are close friends outside it. I know that we will stay in touch even after my retirement. That is what I do appreciate».
Parting words to new generation
Observing the matches of the current national team, Zarina noted the high potential of the juniors, highlighting the play of Sonja Zhiyenbayeva against the champion of US Open Bianca Andreescu. However, she is in no hurry to call anyone as «the next Zarina Diyas», emphasizing the individuality of every athlete.
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The primary advice Zarina has gave for young players and their parents is – patience:
«Tennis is the long game. Success does not happen overnight. There will be twists and turns, challenges, but it is important to enjoy the process itself, not just the goal. It is important for parents to foster a love for the sport so that the child goes to practice with joy. Then you will succeed in it all».
Zarina Diyas is retiring, but her name went down in history as a symbol of consistency and high class of Kazakhstan tennis school. Rakhmet, Zarina!
The farewell procedure was truly emotional. Video messages from the global tennis stars, acknowledgements from colleagues and applauses of the fans forced Zarina to dash away tears more than once. The former World No. 31, whose career stands as a testament to hard work and resilience, leaves the tour, leaving a legacy.
The Price of Success and the Rat Race
At her final press conference, Zarina was exceptionally candid. Her decision to retire was not a spontaneous one - it was dictated by the years of colossal exertion.
«This is endless trainings, enormous flights every week, stress and pressure. Physically, it was getting harder and harder. Tennis is a race that never ends, and at a certain stage, you realize it is time to stop», - the athlete declared.
Diyas recalled that she enjoyed the taste of victory very early: she won the first prizes when she was 9 years old, and the World Championship in the USA at 16 years old. This early self-efficacy helped her to achieve WTA title in Tokyo and the fourth rounds of the Grand Slam tournaments.
Friendship means more than titles
Despite her image of a private and focused player, Zarina recognized that tennis has given her not only regalia but also closed ones. Among those who sent warm words were Arina Sobolenko and Anastassiya Pavlyuchenkova. «We trained in the same academy for years. We are competitors on the court, but we are close friends outside it. I know that we will stay in touch even after my retirement. That is what I do appreciate».
Parting words to new generation
Observing the matches of the current national team, Zarina noted the high potential of the juniors, highlighting the play of Sonja Zhiyenbayeva against the champion of US Open Bianca Andreescu. However, she is in no hurry to call anyone as «the next Zarina Diyas», emphasizing the individuality of every athlete.
The primary advice Zarina has gave for young players and their parents is – patience:
«Tennis is the long game. Success does not happen overnight. There will be twists and turns, challenges, but it is important to enjoy the process itself, not just the goal. It is important for parents to foster a love for the sport so that the child goes to practice with joy. Then you will succeed in it all».
Zarina Diyas is retiring, but her name went down in history as a symbol of consistency and high class of Kazakhstan tennis school. Rakhmet, Zarina!
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