体坛英语新闻：Ecuadorian tennis player Lapentti retires

QUITO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Nicolas Lapentti, considered the best tennis player in Ecuador, announced on Monday his definitive retirement from professional tennis, due to injuries that have impeded him from playing at his full potential.

"It took me a lot to take the decision, I didn't want to rush, I wanted to be 100 percent sure. I'm leaving tennis without regret," said Lapentti at a press conference.

The 34-year-old player made the announcement supported by his family in the Tennis Club in Guayaquil (South west).

Last year he suffered from several injuries and now he suffers acute tendon injury in one of his knees.

"I'll have a farewell match, but I don't know when and against whom. I have to get over the injury first," he said.

Lapentti started his career in 1993 when he was 16, in the local Davis Cup team. He debuted in the ATP circuit in Bogota in 1995 and won the Challenger in Santiago, Chile. His highest ATP ranking was sixth in November 1999.