Tennis: Berasategui announces retirement

Spain's Alberto Berasategui, who was ranked seventh in the world at his peak in 1994, is retiring from professional tennis at the age of 27.

"Deciding to give up has been a relief," Berasategui was quoted as saying in the Spanish newspaper El Pais. "I would now like to do things that I haven't been able to do because of tennis."

The Spaniard was known for an unorthodox right-hand drive that helped to take him to the final of the 1994 French Open, where he lost to compatriot Sergi Bruguera.

He won 14 titles after turning professional in 1991.

The Basque-born player felt that injuries, age and a lack of confidence had taken their toll on his career.