5 Perfectly timed tennis retirements

Timing is important in every aspect of the game. So much so, that even timing your retirement is something important. An untimely or a late retirement can spoil the image of a player.For example, Lleyton Hewitt is not going to be remembered as well as he would have been if he retired a few years ago, nor is Marion Bartoli who retired after winning her first grand slam at the age of 30. On the other hand there are players who time their retirement perfectly so that they are remembered for decades to come.Here is a list of 5 players who timed their retirements perfectly.

#5 Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King is argubaly one of the best players ever. She won a total of 12 Grand Slams in the open era (she won a total of 39, but 27 of those were not in the open era). King retired from competitive play in singles at the end of 1983. And just like the others she retired on a high note, winning the singles title at Birmigham, and being the oldest WTA player to win a title. 

King is an advocate for sexual equality. In 1973, at age 29, she won the so-called Battle of the Sexes tennis match against the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, and was the founder of the Women's Tennis Association, World TeamTennis (with former husband Larry King), and the Women's Sports Foundation.

Grand Slam Singles Titles	Years Won
Australian Open	1968
French Open	1972
Wimbledon	1966, 67, 68, 72, 73, 75
US Open	1967, 71, 72, 74