Nicolas Kiefer bids farewell to tennis

ANOVER: Nicolas Kiefer is retiring from tennis with immediate effect, the former world number four player from Germany said in an interview published Thursday.

Kiefer, 32, told Die Welt that he wants to spend more time with his baby daughter. He said he plans to continue in sports as an over-32 player at football club Hanover 96 and through his sports management studies.

"It is time to start a new chapter in life after 15 years," Kiefer said.

"Come on Kiwi, you had a super career, met many great people, saw many countries and learnt a lot. It is enough. Now you are a father and have a daughter," he told the interviewer.

Kiefer said he decided over the past days to hang up his racket.

Once hailed as a successor of Boris Becker, Kiefer was a junior champion at the Australian and US Open in 1995. He won six tournaments on the ATP Tour, was ranked fourth in 2000 and also has an Olympic doubles silver medal from 2004.

However, a string of injuries denied Kiefer further success. He is currently ranked 722nd.

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