Ancic forced to retire

Mario Ancic has decided to retire from professional tennis at the age of 26 having suffered a number of injuries and illnesses.

Former world number seven forced out by injury and illness

Mario Ancic has decided to retire from professional tennis at the age of 26 having suffered a number of injuries and illnesses. The Croatian claimed a career-best ranking of number seven in the world in 2006 and was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon two years earlier. "I'm forced to quit because nature has decided it's time," Ancic said in Split on Wednesday. "My back can't withstand the effort of professional tennis." Besides his back problems, Ancic has also battled knee injuries as well as glandular fever. Known for his powerful serves, Ancic won three singles and five doubles titles on the tour. He was part of the Croatia team that won the Davis Cup in 2005 and also won a bronze medal alongside Ivan Ljubicic at the Athens Olympic Games the year before. Ancic now plans to become a lawyer, having completed a law degree at the University of Split in 2008.