Linda Mair ends her career: “I have to think about my future”

The life of a tennis player is not a pony farm. Although large sums of money are circulating in the ATP and WTA series, the professionals have to travel long distances and fight hard for every point, no matter how small, in order to work their way further up the world rankings and hold on to the dream of the big tennis stage . After years of traveling around to play in ITF tournaments, Linda Mair has now put an end to her tennis career. “After the defeat at the ITF tournament in Bangkok on December 12th (defeated in two sets by 18-year-old Katharina Lehnert from Germany), I thought about my future and decided to quit tennis,” explains the Passierian.

The reasons for her resignation were predominantly financial. “Over time, some sponsors also dropped out. The costs for travel, hotels and physiotherapy simply became too high and in the end I didn't have much left of the income. You don't swim in gold and you have to make a lot of sacrifices. I had to make a decision whether I wanted to continue or start a new life - away from sport - and I chose the second option," says Linda Mair, explaining her decision.

A life for tennis

Linda Mair is currently number 718 in the WTA rankings and last year, on October 15th, as number 650, she seemed to be well on her way to making it into the top 600. However, the dream didn't last long. At the age of six, the Passirian woman swung a tennis racket for the first time. In her career she played 76 ITF matches in singles (26 wins and 50 losses) and 104 in doubles (42 wins, 62 losses). Now a new adventure begins for them.

“I talked to my mother, thought it through carefully and now I’m looking forward. Starting tomorrow (Wednesday, adR) I will be working as a barist in a bar in St. Martin. Tennis remains my passion, but from now on it is just a hobby and not my work. I no longer have to fulfill any obligations and can play whenever I feel like it. Do I regret anything in my career? No, I’m happy with what I’ve achieved,” said Mair.

Linda Mair made it to an ITF singles semi-final once in her career. Back on September 25, 2010, she had to admit defeat to the Moroccan El Allami in Algeria. In doubles, the South Tyrolean reached the final of an ITF tournament twice, namely in Tangeri (Morocco) and Annaba (Algeria), and the semi-finals ten times. Now Linda Mair, who celebrated her 26th birthday on February 28th, is looking towards the future, away from tennis, which has given her many happy moments.

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Linda Mair ends her career: “I have to think about my future”

The 28-year-old tennis player from the Passeier Valley has hung up her tennis racket and taken a new path. As of today, Linda Mair works in a bar in St. Martin. “It is a well-considered decision. I feel sorry for her, but I have to think about my future,” said the woman from Passiria.

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