Former World No.1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic took the tennis world by surprise when she announced on Facebook Live that she would be retiring from the sport, effective immediately.

“It hasn’t been an overnight decision,” she explained in an exclusive with WTA Insider. “It’s been on my mind for a little bit but I tried to also follow my heart because for me, it’s proven to be the best way.

“I really felt now it’s time to just give back. Coming from Serbia, everything that I’ve been through in my life and my career, so far my parents and my brother with me, they made it all possible. I feel very fortunate and so I want to give back and maybe help others be as fortunate as I was.”

What followed was an outpouring of well wishes from her friends and colleagues who’ve been with her throughout her 13-year career. From WTA founder Billie Jean King, to 2016’s World No.1s Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams, to rising stars like Belinda Bencic and Daria Gavrilova, it was clear Ivanovic was as much beloved by her fellow players as the fans saying #ThankYouAna.

Check out what her fellow WTA stars had to say about the Serb on Twitter:

I will miss one of my best friends on tour @AnaIvanovic ❤️ You've had an incredible tennis career. Best wishes for the exciting new chapter! pic.twitter.com/IUlbkHHGVE

— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) December 29, 2016

@AnaIvanovic Best wishes with your future endeavors. Will miss seeing that spectacular smile! ? Once a champion, always a champion. ? ?

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) December 28, 2016

@AnaIvanovic my goodness I will miss your smile. All my love ❤️❤️

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) December 28, 2016

You were one of my first Idols when I was a small girl ?All the best at your life after tennis @AnaIvanovic ! We will miss you on the Tour! pic.twitter.com/YCMv5G43ic

— Belinda Bencic (@BelindaBencic) December 29, 2016

Will miss you on tour, but excited for you and what your new chapter has to bring? see you soon!!?? https://t.co/twK95j9Dnl

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) December 28, 2016

@WTA @AnaIvanovic #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/5magt6K1wy

— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) December 29, 2016

Ha sido un placer haber compartido contigo tantos años en el circuito @WTA. I will miss you @AnaIvanovic! See you soon! ?? #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/LQdj5MEMll

— Anabel Medina (@anabelmedina) December 28, 2016

Awww, sorry to see @AnaIvanovic retire! Will miss that forehand, the smile &the little fist pump. Delightful to all! #happyretirement ????

— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) December 28, 2016

We will miss seeing your smile on the court! Fighter, professional, great person. Enjoy your post-tennis life, Ana ? pic.twitter.com/1FXcBl4C2Z

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) December 28, 2016

That smile, that grace, that forehand, that class….@AnaIvanovic … Tennis will miss you… BUT, what a rich life you have ahead of you!!!

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) December 28, 2016

@AnaIvanovic Will miss you on tour! Good luck and enjoy the next chapter. ??

— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) December 28, 2016

Good luck with the next chapter! https://t.co/wnlGE91Mzg

— Anne Keothavong (@annekeothavong) December 28, 2016

What a amazing athlete, competitor,fighter but most importantly what a great person off court @AnaIvanovic congratulations on everything you

— TamiraPaszek (@tamira1990) December 28, 2016

achieved in your career! You can be proud @AnaIvanovic ??wishing you all the best for this new phase of your life ??? will miss you on tour

— TamiraPaszek (@tamira1990) December 28, 2016

Congrats on your career @AnaIvanovic good luck and have fun on what's coming next! We had some fun matches together ?? pic.twitter.com/95flZJ5whh

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) December 28, 2016

Will miss you and our laughs and chats.. good luck.. best always .. love ❤️ https://t.co/sEWhYkB0dQ

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) December 29, 2016

Congrats @anaivanovic on a wonderful career. Hope you have a great time off court and I hope we'll still see you around!??? pic.twitter.com/yAbd64Xubt

— Roberta Vinci (@roberta_vinci) December 29, 2016

wish you nothing but the best. #ajde! https://t.co/T2sHsL8rDI

— Jamie Hampton (@Jamie_Hampton) December 28, 2016

Amazing tennisplayer and even better person?. Happy retirement @AnaIvanovic ??

— Sofia Arvidsson (@Sofia_Arvidsson) December 28, 2016

They don't come much nicer, prettier or classier than this girl ❤ Thank you @AnaIvanovic for being a Champion on and off the court ⭐ @WTA pic.twitter.com/RrnKYdCjSq

— Michaëlla Emmrich (@MisaKrajicek) December 28, 2016

@AnaIvanovic Ana,congrats on your amazing career!Oh,we will miss you ? ? Good luck in your new chapter,I am sure it will be all fine?❤

— Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) December 29, 2016

@AnaIvanovic we will miss you Ana! ?All the best to your family and you ❤

— Alla Kudryavtseva (@AllaK11) December 28, 2016

@AnaIvanovic wishing u the very best in your future Ana! You were truly one of THE NICEST PEOPLE EVER ON TOUR! Beautiful inside & out!!

— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) December 29, 2016

@AnaIvanovic good luck in the future

— Melanie South (@melaniesouth) December 28, 2016

We had couple of battle together, @AnaIvanovic
I will miss seeing you on the tour …
Good luck in your post tennis life and Enjoy it ! ? pic.twitter.com/bnOaxpFsFL

— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) December 28, 2016

Congrats on your career @AnaIvanovic and good luck with what's coming now:) pic.twitter.com/NsJiifeAXE

— Kiki Bertens (@kikibertens) December 28, 2016

イワノビッチ引退かぁぁ、
可愛くて大好きな選手。
寂しいなぁ。#ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/SfvBS8tZGX

— Misa Eguchi / 江口実沙 (@misa_eguchi) December 29, 2016

All the best Ana ??????we will miss u https://t.co/Z6foNyYPAu

— Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) December 29, 2016

You can be proud of you @AnaIvanovic ! You are a great champion and a very nice person, now enjoy the real life ? #ThankYouAna

— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) December 29, 2016

Didn't have a chance to play with you! But still happy I got a chance to share a few years on @WTA tour at the same time with @AnaIvanovic ? https://t.co/iHaPvC8PEF

— Kovinić Danka (@KovinicDanka118) December 29, 2016

had always fun playing with you,playing against you like when we were kids at Eddie Herr and many more!Wish you all the best @AnaIvanovic

— Jarmila Wolfe (@tennis_jarkag) December 29, 2016

What a babe. Gorgeous inside and (obv) out ? tennis will definitely miss you #AnaIvanovic pic.twitter.com/L86hX1InjG

— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) December 29, 2016

Lucky to have shared the court with such a nice person.. good luck in this next chapter of your life @AnaIvanovic .. enjoy!! pic.twitter.com/fU4bf5Vlzx

— Sara Errani (@SaraErrani) December 29, 2016