Spain’s Nuria Llagostera Vives has stopped playing singles, largely due to the wrist injury she suffered in 2006. The former No. 35 is now concentrating on doubles.
"I broke my wrist in that match in Miami and had to retire, and then I couldn't touch a racquet for a whole year," the 31-year-old Llagostera Vives told WTAtennis.com. "I lost some feeling and some movement in my arm, so when I did start playing tennis again there was no feeling in my hand. It was the worst. It was very disappointing. I never got back to the Top 50 after that, and I was never sure if it was because of the surgery or that my mind didn't work the same as it used to. But I always had to look forward. Some of my doctors said I may never play again, so I'm happy I recovered and have been able to play for many years since then. And hopefully I will play many more."
Llagostera Vives is currently ranked No. 20 in doubles and is playing with fellow Spaniard Arantxa Parra Santonja. "Obviously I don't have to practice as much now—I practice about half the time I used to," she said. "That gives me more spare time so I can go shopping or sightseeing, which is one of the things I always wanted to do more of when traveling. I have more time for myself now, which makes me enjoy all this even more."