Gastão Elias retires from professional tennis

Portuguese tennis player Gastão Elias has officially retired from professional competition following a first-round loss at the Lisboa Belém Open. The 35-year-old athlete lost to Italy’s Francesco Passaro with a score of 6-2, 6-3.

Elias concluded a career spanning nearly two decades, during which he reached a career-high ATP ranking of 57 and won ten Challenger titles. His notable achievements include being the first Portuguese player to win at the Olympic Games and competing in the main draws of all four Grand Slam tournaments.

During an emotional farewell speech at the Club Internacional de Foot-Ball, Elias expressed gratitude to his parents, the tennis federation, and his partner, Rute, for her support through various injuries. Following his retirement, Elias will continue his involvement in the sport as a coach for Swiss player Patrick Schoen.