Rome May 15 (IANS) AItaly s Roberta Vinci on Monday played her last professional tennis match at age 35 losing to Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia in the first round of the Italian Open here.
During Vinci s farewell ceremony held at Pietrangeli court following her defeat a video of key moments from her career was shown on a large screen reports Efe.
"I m crying now but I m happy I m happy for what I ve accomplished " Vinci said. "I would have liked to do better but it doesn t matter that I lost."
Vinci had an opportunity to stretch her career for at least one more match but lost 2-6 6-0 6-3 in her last tournament as a professional.
Over her long career Vinci won 10 singles titles but lost her biggest singles final at the US Open to fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta.
However Vinci had a successful doubles partnership with Sara Errani also of Italy earning five Grand Slam titles; French Open (2012) US Open (2012) Australian Open (2013 2014) and Wimbledon (2014).

--IANS pur/sku/