Dinara Safina must be ruing the day her brother talked compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova out of quitting tennis. Newly crowed queen of Roland Garros Kuznetsova has revealed how Marat Safin, brother of beaten finalist Safina, talked her out of quitting tennis after she became disillusioned with the sport.

Former women’s number one Safin helped talk Kuznetsova round after her Grand Slam final defeats to Justin Henin in the 2006 French Open and the 2007 US Open left her on the verge of breakdown. Further early round defeats in The German Open and Rome Masters in 2008 prompted a quit threat from the 23-year-old and only for the intervention of mentor Safin, things could have been very different for the 2009 French Open Champion.

“It’s been a tough time for me,” said Kuznetsova. “When I lost in Rome I left for Moscow. I was saying ‘I don’t want to train. I don’t want to think about it (tennis). I don’t want to go back’. “I said a few times I want to quit tennis. I said it – but I never felt it. “I said it to Marat a few times. I said ‘Marat, I don’t know, maybe I should not play’. He said ‘Are you crazy or what? You have unbelievable opportunities, you have to play’.”

Kuznetsova beat world number one Safina in straight sets on Saturday to claim the 2009 title and her second Grand Slam in a remarkable turnaround which can only encourage the participation of female tennis players, as an exodus of star players threatens. Justin Henin’s shock retirement from tennis in May 2008 brought shockwaves to the women’s game. At the time, the Belgian was ranked current women’s world number one and at just 25, she left behind a sport which is forever losing talented females prematurely.

The timing of Henin’s decision was baffling to say the least. With the French Open due to begin a matter of weeks before her announcement, she was expected to launch the defence of her title of which she had held for the previous three years. Having won on the red dirt four times in her short but sweet career, Henin was also expected to be a strong title contender for the 2008 Wimbledon tournament, the only Grand Slam missing from her collection. Seven Grand Slams and gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics show an accomplished career record. But on the back of a triumphant handful of years, Henin called it a day, to the dismay of the tennis world.

In one of very few sports which hands out equal pay to both genders, it’s a strange pattern which has formed over the past decade. But why are so many young female tennis players retiring before their time? Others who maybe have not been quite as successful as Henin have left to pursue other careers. One of those in particular is Anna Kournikova. The Russian has not played on the singles WTA tour since 2003, slipping out of the singles game at the age of 21. Kournikova’s natural beauty was recognised early in her career as she was subject to intense media attention from advertising agencies, men’s magazines and eventually left the game to pursue a modelling career.

Her abilities as a tennis player were frequently questioned and inevitably her commitment too as her head was easily turned by the ‘celebrity’ lifestyle which was on offer since her teens. Rather than focusing on improving her skills, she lost her way and faded out of the game into multi million dollar modelling contracts.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova has often been compared to her compatriot Kournikova despite possessing superior ability. Her striking good looks have grabbed her similar publicity, but at just 22 the Russian has three Grand Slam titles to her name, yet fans already fear she will leave tennis to pursue other interests.

Serena and Venus Williams, both of whom regularly feature in the top ten rankings and currently sit second and third respectively, have also had their heads turned by celebrity lifestyle. The sisters have their own fashion designer labels and frequently model each others designs. Serena has even played minor acting roles in American sitcoms and could make a career change in this direction.

It seems apparent that young female tennis players are extremely vulnerable and naïve when drafted into the limelight. While Henin claimed to be heading for a quiet life away from the game to concentrate on her tennis academy, she will this month take part in her second Belgian reality TV show in quick succession. Hardly living the quiet life Justin!

Nine years and many titles was deemed job done for Henin, who had every right to leave the sport she grew alienated from. But if the tennis authorities want to keep their prized assets in the game longer than they currently do so, changes need to be made.

Most female tennis players turn professional around 16, a freighting age to begin a profession with such attention, demand and pressure. Indeed Kournikova was just 14 when she played her first professional game in her native Russia. Sharapova won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon aged just 17, immediately being exposed to the world.

Also this week it emerged that 15-year-old Laura Robson has been handed a wild card entry into this year’s Wimbledon tournament. The English teenager won last year’s female youth version of the event and has been drafted in for the senior ladies’ tournament in a desperate attempt by the LTA to find some home grown success at the top level. “From the sounds of it, there is going to be quite a lot of pressure so I am just going to have to deal with that,” said Robson.

“I don’t know what I am going to do but all I can do is go on court and try my best. Then, win or lose, if I have tried my best then I cannot be unhappy.” With so many female teenagers being pressurised into beginning their tennis careers so early, it’s little wonder they don’t remain in the game longer when they’re old enough to make their own decisions.

Governing bodies such as the Women’s Tennis Association must seriously consider introducing new legislation to rectify the problem. Perhaps introducing a new rule in which female tennis players cannot turn professional until they’re 17, regardless of their talent.

At 17, young tennis hopefuls would be much more mature and mentally prepared for a hectic professional career. The governing bodies could also introduce new coaching techniques whereby trainees are taught how to deal with media attention to avoid being brainwashed should they make it to the top. Certainly changes need to be made along the production line, or the trend will continue and women’s tennis could struggle to hold on to the respected status it has accomplished.

Kuznetsova’s success offers a ray of light on the problem. Hopefully the world number 5 can build on her French Open win and go on to achieve greatness in the women’s game. Perhaps from this, she could become an ambassador for younger players who contemplate leaving the game before they’ve barely even started.

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