Former world No. 31 Zarina Diyas has announced her retirement from professional tennis, sharing a series of photos that trace her journey, from her first training sessions as a child to some of the most memorable moments of her WTA career.
Diyas will be remembered as the first homegrown Kazakh player to succeed at a high level on the WTA Tour. Kazakhstan has since produced a Grand Slam singles champion in Elena Rybakina, and many other players have successfully represented the country, although several were born and developed elsewhere, most notably in Russia, while Diyas herself was born in Almaty.
In her farewell message, the 32-year-old highlighted the pride she felt representing her country, especially at the Olympic Games. Reflecting on her journey, the Kazakh looked back on the path that took her from a young dreamer to a top athlete:
It has been an incredible journey… the path of a girl from Almaty, who since childhood dreamed of playing in world arenas, winning tournaments and becoming one of the best in the world.
Diyas reached a career-high ranking of No. 31 in 2015, before capturing her sole WTA singles title two years later at the Japan Open in Tokyo. Her best Grand Slam results came at Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round in 2014 and 2015. She played her final match at the 2026 Australian Open, falling in the first round to Paula Badosa.
Looking back on her career, she emphasized the lessons the sport gave her:
Tennis gave me a lot, it taught me to be strong, not to give up, to keep going no matter what. There were difficult periods, but there were also victories, emotions and moments that cannot be described in words… and it is impossible to forget.
Tennis legend Venus Williams was among the first to react, writing: “You’re an inspiration! Will miss seeing you on the court!”