Tennis professionals, fans, broadcasters, and observers responded quickly and decisively to Marion Baroli's surprise retirement late Wednesday night: The Frenchwoman is a class act, and the sports world wishes her every happiness.
Also, this is sort of shocking.
Then again, it's not without precedent: Steffi Graf retired after playing a tournament in California—and before the U.S. Open—in 1999, that on the heels of winning the French Open that year before losing to Lindsay Davenport in the Wimbledon final. That's not to say Bartoli's career is on par with Graf's, but she certainly carries a different sort of genius baggage.
There's really no seamless, so-right way to retire from sport. Marion, you can go your own way. Without further ado, here are initial reactions posted to Twitter in light of her news, which she delivered after contemplating and then speaking with her father by phone, from Cincinnati to Europe.
[View the story "Twitter Reactions to Bartoli's Retirement" on Storify]
Got a thought, a tip, or a point to make? Hit me on Twitter @jonscott9.