Kiwi tennis ace Marina Erakovic is choosing to look back fondly on her career, having announced her retirement from the sport earlier today.
After years of battling injury, the 30-year old today revealed that she will call time on her life as a tennis professional after 13 years.
Speaking to 1 NEWS after her announcement, Erakovic detailed when she knew the time was right to walk away from tennis altogether.
"At the end of last year, my back was giving me a lot of trouble," she said.
"I decided to take a break, to give myself more time, to see if I could recover.
"It wasn't until sort of June-July this year that I had an opportunity to try and hit a few ball. It still just wasn't great, and at that stage, I kind of knew deep down.
"It's been a long road, it wasn't until sort of a month ago that I said 'this is it for me' and I started planning to make the announcement."
Erakovic also said that her time away from the game in 2018 helped her come to the decision to retire, with her eyes opened to life away from tennis altogether.
"Once I stopped at the end of last year, I completely just shut out tennis. I didn't follow it, I just led a normal life.
"It wasn't until last month or so where I was looking back on my career, and looking at things I did, places I've travelled to, the titles, the memories, looking through videos and photos - it was emotional.
"Once you sort of stop and look back you go 'wow, this was really incredible.' I'm very proud, and also the people that help you get there, I still have them around me today, and I'm very lucky."
While it may be hard to contemplate a life away from the game that's been the focus of so much of her life, Erakovic says she knows what the future holds, giving herself time to finish her studies.
"Tennis is always going to be a part of my life, that's a given. But for now, I just want to sort of step out of that world a bit and experience new things, try new things.
"I've been studying extramurally while I've been playing. I thought I'd probably die by the time I finish, but I have an opportunity now to finish this degree.
"I'm an economics major, I've transferred to Auckland University next year. I will graduate at the end of next year, so that's just another box to tick, and give myself time to sort of see what I'll do and figure things out.
"I'm open to all opportunities."
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