TORONTO — When Vasek Pospisil was younger, his dad would continuously remind him that quitting was by no means an possibility. The precept took and guided Pospisil proper by means of the ultimate strokes of a beautiful profession, which concluded Sunday night time with a gutsy three-set defeat.
Competing on Centre Courtroom as a wild-card entry within the first spherical of the Nationwide Financial institution Open introduced by Rogers, Pospisil misplaced 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to Argentinian qualifier Facundo Bagnis on Sunday night time at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.
Upfront of the occasion, the British Columbia native introduced the NBO can be the ultimate event of his professional tennis profession. Early on in opposition to Bagnis, it felt like the top may come even before anybody hoped for the 35-year-old. Pospisil — who’s battled groin points — pulled a leg muscle within the fifth recreation of the primary set and laboured to get round, leaving the courtroom at one level to obtain medical consideration.
In that second, it felt like a two-set loss was best-case state of affairs for Pospisil. At worst, it appeared like Pospisil — taking part in simply his third match of 2025 — may need no alternative however to withdraw fully from his closing profession match.
However taking part in in entrance of, amongst different necessary individuals in his life, that father who preached the worth of perseverance, the Canadian put a cost into the group by hanging again to win the second set. He even created extra ripples by breaking Bagnis within the eighth recreation of the third set, earlier than in the end dropping the match.
Pospisil was visibly moved by the video tribute to his profession that performed post-match. When it got here time to speak about his household, he struggled to maintain it collectively. He thanked his large brothers for safeguarding him as a substitute of selecting on him, referred to as his mother, Mila, “the rock of this household” and re-surfaced these phrases his dad and longtime coach, Milos, instilled in him: A Pospisil by no means quits.
“That’s the motto I’ve lived my life by,” Pospisil stated to the cheering crowd and oldsters who have been as misty-eyed as he was.
Perhaps that’s why, as soon as the uncooked emotion of the second handed, Pospisil was so at peace along with his resolution. He gave every part he needed to the sport and left all of it on the courtroom.
“I’m very relieved, to be sincere with you,” he stated with a chuckle at his post-match press convention. “I wasn’t certain how I used to be going to really feel after the match. I used to be considering that I used to be able to retire, however now that it’s carried out, I do know that I’m very relieved and I’m blissful that it’s behind me.”
It phrases of the legacy he leaves behind, Pospisil’s 15 years in professional tennis are outlined by some outstanding highs and a need to at all times characterize his nation. A improbable doubles participant, Pospisil and his taking part in companion, American Jack Sock, received the 2014 Wimbledon title. A yr later, he had his greatest singles displaying in a serious when he reached the quarterfinals on the All England Membership.
As for the NBO, Pospisil debuted in 2010 taking part in doubles with fellow Canadian Milos Raonic and the pair upended the all-world duo of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Three years later, Pospisil — whose world rating peaked at No. 25 — superior to the NBO semifinals in Montreal and misplaced to Raonic in 2013.
He represented Canada on the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and his crowning achievement could have been being part of the 2022 Canadian squad that captured this nation’s first and solely Davis Cup title.
“What’s the purpose of this sport in case you’re not going to play on your nation?” Pospisil stated. “I don’t perceive gamers who don’t play Davis Cup and don’t play Olympics, I genuinely don’t. It’s like, how a lot cash or success do you wish to chase for your self individually? Greater image, I simply don’t perceive it. I believe it’s only a no-brainer. To play on your nation, it’s good for everyone. It’s good for you, it’s good on your power, it’s good to offer again to your nation, to be a job mannequin for the children.”
Whereas Pospisil stated he nonetheless has ardour for tennis, there’s little doubt he’s able to step away. Serving to youngsters — particularly ones who could lack the means to get forward — be taught the game is one thing that pursuits him, however he’s not about to double-back and dive into a brand new, demanding function throughout the recreation now that he’s freshly retired.
“Do I wish to keep in tennis on a full-time foundation? Completely not,” he acknowledged. “I’ve blended feelings in the case of this sport. It takes lots out of you. It’s a extremely, actually robust sport, bodily and mentally, and sooner or later you burn out. No less than I did.”
That’s a part of the explanation why, in reality, Pospisil stated he would have been blissful to hold up his racket nicely earlier than making a closing look on house soil on the NBO. However there was a particular group of individuals he needed to carry out one final time for.
“I actually needed my dad and mom to be at my final match,” he stated. “I didn’t wish to simply type of finish it. As a result of it’s been such a household journey. They sacrificed a lot for me. My dad, he stop his job, he coached me for 15 years. He was, in some methods, extra invested on this than I used to be. It was simply as a lot his journey because it was mine.
“I shouldn’t say that I didn’t wish to [play here]. In fact it’s very particular. However I needed to play another time in entrance of them.”
He certain gave them one final cause to be proud.
