Martinez says it's time to stop

Conchita Martinez won five Fed Cup titles with Spain

Former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez has announced her retirement, a day before her 34th birthday.

The former world number two caused an upset when she prevented Martina Navratilova from winning her 10th Wimbledon singles crown in 1994.

Martinez, the only Spanish woman to win a Wimbledon singles title, also reached the final at the Australian Open in 1998 and the French Open in 2000.

She won 33 singles titles in her career, the last in Thailand in 2005.

Martinez loss annoys Navratilova

Martinez, who turned professional in 1988, also won five Fed Cup titles with Spain.

She took part in four Olympic Games, winning silver in the doubles event in both1992 and 2004 as well as a bronze in 1996.

It wasn't an easy decision but everything has to come to an end Conchita Martinez

A clay-court specialist whose only Grand Slam title ironically came on grass, Martinez was ever-present in the world's top 10 between 1989 and 1998, reaching number two in 1995.

Her ability to grind down opponents in long, attritional rallies helped her reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams that year.

Four years after winning Wimbledon, she reached the final of the Australian Open where she was beaten by Martina Hingis.

And in 2000, she lost to Mary Pierce in the final at Roland Garros.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but everything has to come to an end," said Martinez, after announcing her retirement at the Valencia Open.

"There were some hard times but in the end the successes will always remain."

Martinez, who has been struggling with tendonitis in her left foot recently, said she may still play doubles.