PARIS, France - Talented Frenchwoman Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro called it a career at the Open GDF SUEZ this past week, after falling in the second round of singles and in the semifinals of doubles at the Premier-level event.

Cohen-Aloro's best results on the WTA were semifinal finishes at Estoril in 2004 (losing to Iveta Benesova) and Barcelona in 2008 (losing to Maria Kirilenko), as well as four quarterfinals; she peaked at No.61 in singles. In doubles, she reached one final on the WTA, at Paris in 2003 (with Marion Bartoli).

This year, she lost to Bethanie Mattek-Sands in singles and, with Tunisia's Selima Sfar, to Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy in doubles.

"It was a difficult decision but one I came to progressively," the 27-year-old said. "My passion for tennis is still there but my motivation has started to dip a little.

"Playing here was a great way to go out. I didn't expect to be here after losing in qualifying and I was afraid the public wouldn't be happy I replaced Sharapova, but with my ranking this kind of match is not the norm. Next week I could have been playing a $25,000, and that's where things are a little more difficult.

"Winning the Fed Cup was definitely a highlight, and matches against the Williams sisters and Amélie herself also stand out. It was a childhood dream. It was a great experience. I will miss the people, the life. I have no regrets."