Lucie Safarova to end career at the J&T Banka Prague Open

Lucie Safarova will be missed on the tour | Edit: Don Han

#LucieSafarova has just announced that she will play the final tournament of her career at the J&T Banka #PragueOpen. Receiving a wildcard into her home event, the Czech is also confirmed to compete in the doubles competition alongside good friend and former partner #BethanieMattekSands, stringing together a perfect full stop to a wonderful and storied career of hers.

Back at home to end it off

Safarova announced this news on Instagram, stating that she was “happy to announce that [she] will be playing the Prague tournament as [her] farewell with Czech fans.”

Lucie Safarova in action at the US Open, where she made her last Grand Slam appearance | Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty

Safarova has been out of action ever since the Coupe Banque Nationale last year where she lost in the second round to Ons Jabeur. Previously, she announced that the 2019 Australian Open was supposed to be the last tournament of her career but was ultimately forced to withdraw due to a wrist tendinities. Furthermore, she was not handed a wildcard which meant that if she had competed, she would have gone through the qualifying rounds.

With her current ranking of 133 it would be difficult for Safarova to continue playing on the tour with her frail body and the increasing intensity of the tour, especially with her tendency to get sick. She will compete in doubles alongside good friend Bethanie Mattek-Sands for the first time in front of her home crowd as well, hoping that it will leave behind some perfect memories for everyone who will be there to witness the last match of her career.

Safarova and Mattek-Sands will reunite for one last time in Prague | Photo: Adam Davy - PA Images/Getty

Mattek-Sands herself also underwent a knee surgery a couple of weeks ago, but announced in a video that she will be hoping that she will be fully fit to partner Safarova in front of such a special crowd. Five-time Major champions, Team Bucie has not competed together as a pair since the US Open last year.

Safarova is a former champion in Prague, having lifted the singles trophy in front of her home crowd in 2016. She owns a 7-2 win-loss record at the tournament and will be hoping that playing on clay, which is her favoured surface, can help her to produce a deep run to end off her career with.