Latisha Chan announced her retirement from tennis at the Australian Open after a glittering career that saw her reach world No. 1 in doubles. The 36-year-old, who won the US Open doubles title in 2017 with Martina Hingis and the Wimbledon mixed doubles title two years later, explained that she felt "very lucky" to achieve so much in the sport despite her "physical limitations".

The Taiwanese trailblazer was likely referring to her diagnosis of postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in 2014, which saw her shift from a promising singles career to doubles. She has been inactive for two years as a result of injury and has not played at this year's Australian Open.

However, organisers of the Grand Slam have confirmed that a special ceremony honouring her will take place on Saturday.

Chan won four mixed doubles Majors in addition to her US Open win, taking the French Open titles in 2018 and 2019 in addition to her Wimbledon win in 2019 with Ivan Dodig.

She also competed in four Olympic Games, including the Paris 2024 edition with her sister Chan Hao-ching.

On Instagram, she penned an emotional statement that read: "To a voyage with a compass only.

"This was supposed to be a bit sentimental moment, but don't know why but what comes to mind is the pictures that make people smile.

"I've never been very good at saying goodbye, especially to say goodbye to a dream that has been with me for 30 years.

"Tennis came into my life when I was 6 years old, I didn't expect to be with me all the way until I was 36 years old.

"Lucky to be brave for my dreams with the support of my parents. And on such a special journey, with so many, many people along the way who helped me support me, I can't help but get red eyes to think of it."

She added: "Although everyone often sees athletes enjoy the thrill of victory and live a gorgeous life, indeed tennis has also taken me through many climax moments and led me to see the bigger world.

"But behind every game, it's a life that is rarely seen - daily boring training, never-ending jetlag, and long flights over and over again, waking up in the middle of the night and couldn't tell which corner of the world I was in a hotel.

"It also taught me how to fall and stand up again, still keep believing in yourself when the whole world doesn't believe in you.

"Those who are alone, those who are not understood, those who demand the perfect horns, the moments that try but can't control, little by little, it makes me know myself more, finding confidence in doubt also made me who I am today.

"Although in the process, due to physical limitations, I have to give up some goals, but can be under such limitations I feel very lucky to have accomplished the highest point I can reach. My tennis career left no regrets in my heart at this moment of turning."

She confirmed her retirement, penning: "I officially announce my retirement as a professional tennis player. Retirement ceremony will also be held at the Australian Open this week.

"When I was 14 I won the Teen Girls Doubles Championship in the Australian Open, started my career tennis path. So the end of this journey is very meaningful."