Former World No. 2 Anett Kontaveit's unexpected retirement announcement has drawn shocked and heartbroken reactions from tennis fans.On Tuesday, June 20, Kontaveit took to social media and announced her decision to retire from tennis after competing at the upcoming Wimbledon Championships. The former World No. 2 revealed the diagnosis of a degenerative injury to her lumbar disc which rendered it "impossible" for her to compete at the highest level."Today I am announcing that I am ending my career as a competitive athlete. After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back," she wrote on Instagram."This does not allow for full-scale training or continued competition. Therefore, it is impossible to continue at the top level in such a highly competitive field," she added. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostTennis journalist Ben Rothenberg commiserated with the 27-year-old over the abrupt end to her career. He also highlighted the "brutal" nature of tennis."An abrupt end to the career of Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked #2 at last year's US Open. Brutal sport indeed, and all the best to a player who was a very good citizen of the tour for an unfortunately brief time," Rothenberg tweeted.Ben Rothenberg@BenRothenbergAn abrupt end to the career of Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked #2 at last year’s US Open.Brutal sport indeed, and all the best to a player who was a very good citizen of the tour for an unfortunately brief time. twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.541027yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3RAn abrupt end to the career of Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked #2 at last year’s US Open.Brutal sport indeed, and all the best to a player who was a very good citizen of the tour for an unfortunately brief time. twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…A fan disclosed that they were heartbroken by the news, recalling the immediate connection they felt to Kontaveit when they started watching tennis."Heartbroken is all I can say. She’s one of the players I fell in love with immediately when I started watching tennis and I’m gonna miss her on tour so dearly. We love you," the fan posted.Owen@kostekcanuHeartbroken is all I can say. She’s one of the players I fell in love with immediately when I started watching tennis and I’m gonna miss her on tour so dearly. We love you @AnettKontaveit_ twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.16427yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3RHeartbroken is all I can say. She’s one of the players I fell in love with immediately when I started watching tennis and I’m gonna miss her on tour so dearly. We love you @AnettKontaveit_ ❤️ twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…"What a cruel sport it can be," another fan chimed in.Solomon Rapoport@SolomonRapoport@BenRothenberg what a cruel sport it can be 🫡@BenRothenberg what a cruel sport it can be 😞🫡Here are a few more fan reactions to Anett Kontaveit's shock retirement:Jean@jeanswart47One of the most humble players out forced to end her career due to an unfortunate injury. Wish you well @AnettKontaveit_ for the next chapter in your career! twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.16727yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3ROne of the most humble players out forced to end her career due to an unfortunate injury. Wish you well @AnettKontaveit_ for the next chapter in your career! 🙏😭 twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Jacob Pacheco@JacobPacheco6Dude🥲This is so sad, man. So unexpected.short but incredible career by Kontaveit. There is no better way to go out than at Wimbledon. One of the most prestigious tournaments there is.#AnettKontaveit #WTA twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.113727yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3RDude🥲This is so sad, man. So unexpected.short but incredible career by Kontaveit. There is no better way to go out than at Wimbledon. One of the most prestigious tournaments there is.#AnettKontaveit #WTA twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…agvta♑️@siIverskyyanett kontaveit i love you and i’m heartbroken tennis misses you already452anett kontaveit i love you and i’m heartbroken 💔 tennis misses you already https://t.co/wGL0prkDacIn my refocus era@sangeetapremiWhat!? I didn't see this coming. Nettu is a great player and a likeable person. 27 is so young to call time on one's career. Wishing her the best for what is to come. twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.114027yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3RWhat!? I didn't see this coming. Nettu is a great player and a likeable person. 27 is so young to call time on one's career. Wishing her the best for what is to come. twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Michael Richier@MichaelRichierThis is so sad. Anett has been a constant on tour. I wish her well twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.71014027yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3RThis is so sad. Anett has been a constant on tour. I wish her well twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Sam@sogsupremeyou could feel it coming couldn't you twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.40127yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3Ryou could feel it coming couldn't you💔💔💔💔💔💔 twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Kami 🏳️‍🌈@alikasbridgeMy heart just got shattered into a million little pieces twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.414127yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3RMy heart just got shattered into a million little pieces 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…maya@mayaseltcant say it’s really surprising but it’s still so so sad, fuck injuries omg twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.414227yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3Rcant say it’s really surprising but it’s still so so sad, fuck injuries omg 😭💔 twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…K@roses_forehandThis is so fcking sad omg twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…Tumaini Carayol@tumcarayol27yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal.517027yo Anett Kontaveit, who was ranked No 2 last year, has announced that she is retiring from tennis at Wimbledon due to her chronic back injury.Sports are brutal. https://t.co/2NEQ9bnr3RThis is so fcking sad omg twitter.com/tumcarayol/sta…"I am ready to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon" - Anett KontaveitAnett Kontaveit at Wimbledon 2022Anett Kontaveit expressed her gratitude for the lessons she has learned during her time as a professional tennis player. She also emphasized the significance of representing her country Estonia on the tennis court. "Tennis has given and taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that. It has been important for me to bring the Estonian flag to the tennis courts and to be able to play in front of my supporters and fans all over the world," she wrote.Despite her impending retirement, Kontaveit expressed her determination to compete as well as she could at Wimbledon 2023."I am ready for new challenges after my last effort as a professional tennis player – to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon," she added.Over the course of her career, Anett Kontaveit has won six WTA singles titles, and 11 singles and five doubles titles on the ITF circuit. She became the first Estonian to qualify for the WTA finals after a dominant 2021 season which saw her record the most wins on the tour (48, alongside Ons Jabeur).