Dubai: World number one Novak Djokovic paid tribute to Maria Sharapova after the Russian announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 32 on Wednesday.
''She deserves it definitely. She's a great fighter. As dedicated as someone can really be in our sport. And the will power and willingness to overcome all the obstacles that she had, especially in the last five, six years with injuries, and surgeries and trying to fight back, come back to the court and play on her desired level, it's truly inspirational to see what mind of a champion she has," Djokovic said.
"And I'm sorry it had to end with an injury, but at the same time she had a fantastic career - she can be proud of herself,'' the World no.1 added.
In an article of a magazine, the five-time Grand Slam champion "said goodbye" and revealed her body "had become a distraction" after struggles with shoulder injuries.
Sharapova won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004 at just 17-years-old and completed the career slam - winning all four majors - with victory at the 2012 French Open.
But her career suffered a downward spiral when she tested positive for meldonium in March 2016 and served a 15-month suspension from the sport.
Her return to the WTA Tour in April 2017 was met with resistance and, although she reached the semi-finals of her comeback tournament in Stuttgart, she struggled to return to past glories thereafter, with the 2017 China Open her final title victory.
Djokovic was speaking on court after the top seed eased past Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Dubai Tennis Championships quarter-finals, where he will face seventh seed Karen Khachanov.
