Russian tennis star Youzhny announces retirement plans

Moscow : Russian tennis star Mikhail Youzhny has announced plans to wrap up his sports career in September after a tournament in Russia's second largest city of St. Petersburg.

The announcement of the 36-year-old player came after his confident 6-2, 6-0 straight sets win over US wildcard Emil Reinberg in the first round of a tennis tournament in Atlanta, reports TASS news agency.

The Russian is now facing Germany's Mikhail Zverev in the second round of the tournament in the United States' Atlanta.

"First of all, I would like to thank for the atmosphere as it is always pleasant to play here," Youzhny said after his win over Reinberg.

"I would like to state now that I am wrapping up with my career as the time has come and this is a very emotional moment. I will be playing in the following tennis tournaments in the United States and will then participate in St. Petersburg (tennis tournament)," he told journalists.

"It will be the last tournament in my career."

The tennis tournament in Russia's St. Petersburg is scheduled for September 16-23. Youzhny is currently ranked 105th by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

Beginning the professional tennis career in 1999, Youzhny won a total of 10 ATP tennis tournaments in singles as well as nine tournaments playing in doubles. He also won two Davis Cup tournaments playing for the national team in 2002 and 2006.

Youzhny's best career achievement in the ATP rating list of world's best tennis players was the eighth position in 2008.