MONTRÉAL, Canada - Canadian Valérie Tétreault announced her retirement from professional tennis on Thursday, December 9 after four years on the tour. Just 22 years old, she made the decision to focus on other aspects of her life, but also doesn't plan to disengage from the sport completely.

"I have spent the last month thinking about my future. This was a very difficult decision to make and also the most important one of my life," Tétreault said at a press conference in Montréal. "I still have the same passion for my sport I have always had, but I am ready to take on new challenges, all while maintaining a more stable lifestyle. I hope to pursue a career in communications and I also want to remain involved in tennis. I have been privileged through all of these years and I hope to give back to a sport which has given me so much."

The Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu native lists playing Kim Clijsters on Rod Laver Arena this year as one of her best tennis memories. Her first round loss to the Belgian, one of Tétreault's favorite players, was her only appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open. In her only other Grand Slam main draw, she fell to Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round of the 2009 US Open.

In 2010, Tétreault advanced to the second round of two WTA events, Québec City and Memphis. At her home province's tournament, the Bell Challenge, she upset No.4 seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the first round.

Tétreault won three titles on the ITF Circuit, all in 2009 - Carson, El Paso and Grapevine. She leaves as the No.5 Canadian on the WTA, behind Rebecca Marino, Aleksandra Wozniak, Stéphanie Dubois and Heidi El Tabakh. Currently ranked No.206, her career high is 112, achieved in February 2010.

She closed out her professional career in November with a first round loss to fellow Canadian Carol Zhao at the Tevlin Challenger in Toronto.