Germany”s Anna-Lena Groenefeld announced her retirement from tennis. Groenfeld said she hopes to start a family soon.

The 34-year old reached a career high singles ranking of 7 in 2006.  She stopped playing singles in 2011, and focused exclusively on doubles. She finished 2019 ranked number 11 on the doubles tour. She won 1 singles title and 17 doubles titles during her career. She won mixed doubles titles at the French Open and at Wimbledon.

Rafa Nadal Academy will open a tennis academy in Kuwait in February 2020. The new academy will be the first in the Middle East and will open on February 5.

During a video-recorded speech, Rafael Nadal was excited about his new venture in Kuwait, saying “I am very happy to open the Academy in Kuwait. We are working hard to design a comprehensive and appropriate training program for all members of all ages to ensure the integration of this pioneering project for tennis in the region,” he said.

The academy will be one of the most important components of Kuwait’s Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah International Tennis Complex.  The tennis complex will include a multi-purpose covered main stadium with a capacity of more than 5,000 seats, eight covered sub-tennis courts and eight other outdoor tennis courts.

Rafa Nadal Academy is run by Toni Nadal, uncle of Rafael Nadal.  Toni Nadal coached Nadal for most of his career before heading the academy.