Sadness, a fear of the unknown and excitement is how Dominika Cibulkova characterised her retirement from professional tennis, although there remained an underlying acceptance that her childhood dreams had been achieved.

Calling time on her on-court days at the age of 30, Bratislava-born Cibulkova took time to reflect on a career which saw her mix it with the very best and reach No. 4 in the world rankings.

She also topped the podium at the 2016 WTA Finals in Singapore, secure eight singles titles and make history on behalf of her nation, the Slovak Republic, on numerous occasions and in various guises.

Cibulkova became the first Slovak woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final when she finished runner-up to Li Na at the 2014 Australian Open, while he career-best ranking is the highest placing of anyone from her nation.

She also represented Slovakia in Fed Cup by BNP Paribas with gusto, featuring for her country in 11 successive years from 2005 before returning in April 2019 for a glorious swansong.

Forever accompanied by “Pome” – her signature expression – as well as finesse and speed around the court, her back catalogue of success adds up to a memorable period under the glare of the tennis spotlight.

“I was one of the luckiest kids to stumble upon the road of a tennis player,” said Cibulkova, as she announced her retirement.

“Thanks goes to my wonderful parents and I will be forever grateful for their wonderful support. They did everything possible to keep me moving forward, no matter how big the obstacles that stood in the way.

“I was very fortunate to have a whole village of wonderful people around me, who helped shape my career and helped me achieve goals and dreams that children dream about.”

In the end, however, it proved something of a long goodbye, with Cibulkova not featuring since Roland Garros in June, where she lost 7-5 6-1 to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the first round. Sometimes when you know, you just know.

“It was strange because I knew, and no one around me except my team knew it would be my last tournament,” she added. “At that point, I was 100 per cent sure. I wasn’t doubting or thinking ‘maybe yes or no’.

“I knew I wanted to do it like this, for this to be my last tournament. I went home and was happy with my decision. It’s hard to make it, but once you do, you feel more free.”

Her showing in Paris brought down the curtain on a Grand Slam career which included a semi-final showdown in the French capital in 2009, three runs to the quarter-final at Wimbledon and an appearance in the last eight at the US Open.

But it was in Melbourne five years ago when her tennis grew in stature, reaching the final before falling to Li 7-6(3) 6-0. It was also around that time that Cibulkova’s height was homed in on.

At the time, only three women in the Top 100 were shorter than the diminutive Cibulkova’s five feet and three inches. Furthermore, since the Open Era began in 1968, no player less than five feet three inches had sealed a Grand Slam title.

“It’s not about how tall you are. It’s just you have to really believe in it – there is nothing more important than this,” said Cibulkova, reflecting the bullish, positive and never-say-die attitude she was noted for.

It was that mindset which fuelled her victory march at the 2016 WTA Finals, which concluded with a 6-3 6-4 success over world No. 1 and reigning Australian and US Open champion Angelique Kerber, and her approach to Fed Cup.

Cibulkova retired from the competition in April following Slovakia’s victory over Brazil in a World Group II play-off and boasting a 23-19 overall win-loss record, although in singles she won 22 of the 33 matches she contested.

“The team will miss her so much,” said Slovakia captain Matej Liptak at the time. “A player like Dominika perhaps comes along once in ten years, 20 years or even more. She has been a tremendous role model for kids and people.

“She has shown how to be a professional, fight and work hard. We will miss her but the time has come for her.”

That now, however, is the past. The future, to an extent, is unknown, although Cibulkova remains actively involved in the Love4Tennis Dominika Cibulkova Academy in Bratislava.

The same applies with her charity, So The Stars Never Fade, which provides financial and social support for Slovakian athletes struggling with the demands of life following sporting achievements. Cibulkova’s memoir, Tennis is my Life, has also recently hit the streets.

But at the age of just 30, there is plenty of scope for Cibulkova to achieve post-tennis ambitions and no doubt she will bid to do so with the same finesse witnessed during her playing days.

She said: “This moment [the decision to announce retirement] is filled with so many feelings – sadness, fear of the unknown, but also excitement of what life will bring in the future.”