Ross Hutchins retires: 'Healthy' Hutchins hangs up his racket

Hutchins returned to action in January after a year's absence with cancer

Ross Hutchins was a Davis Cup regular for Britain

Ross Hutchins, who returned to competition in January after a year’s absence with cancer, today announced his retirement from professional tennis. The 29-year-old doubles specialist said he felt “strong and healthy” but believed it was time for him to move on to other challenges. He is currently tournament director of the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club.

Hutchins and his partner, Colin Fleming, finished 2012 as the world’s No 10 doubles pair. Hutchins then missed all of 2013 following his diagnosis with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After successful treatment he returned but never rediscovered his best form.

He won five doubles titles in his career and was a regular member of Britain’s Davis Cup team.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement,” Hutchins said. “After much deliberation I feel it is the right time for me to stop.”

Andy Murray has been given a wild card into next month’s China Open in Beijing. He needs to boost his ranking if he is to qualify for the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol respectively in straight sets to put France 2-0 up in their Davis Cup semi-final against the Czech Republic in Paris. In the other semi-final in Geneva Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka put Switzerland firmly in control against Italy with straight-set victories over Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini respectively.