By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday October 19, 2019

Janko Tipsarevic said goodbye to the ATP Tour with a match that characterized the type of fighter he has always been. He saved nine match points against Japan’s Yuichi Sugita before eventually succumbing in a third-set tiebreaker at the Stockholm Open, 6-2 4-6 7-6(4).

The Serb, who won a total of 288 matches and earned four ATP titles, said the moment he will cherish the most when his playing days are over did not actually involve him being on the court.

“The best moment of my professional tennis career is the moment when Viktor Troicki beat Michael Llodra and Serbia wins the Davis Cup title,” he said. “I just really, really do consider myself a team player—these moments in the Davis Cup are the most precious moments if my professional career, and even though this is my last ATP match I feel excited to finish—officially—my career in Madrid.”



Tipsarevic, 35, plans to stay involved in the sport as a coach and mentor. He has founded the Janko Tipsarevic Tennis Academy in Belgrade.

“I feel happy, proud, sad,” Tipsarevic said. “There’s a tremendous amount of mixed emotions going on inside me. The ATP is a tremendous part of my life, a huge part of my future because I see myself connected to this beautiful sport. Even though I am incredibly sad right now I feel excited for the next chapter of my life.”

Tipsarevic was a two-time participant in the ATP finals (2011-12). He owns 52 Grand Slam victories and 15 Top 10 scalps.

He will play for Serbia at the Davis Cup finals in Madrid this November, for his last professional match. He has played 35 ties for Serbia and won 41 matches across singles and doubles.