( CNN ) -- He was once hailed as the next Boris Becker . But , more than a decade later , Nicolas Kiefer has called time on his tennis career after failing to build on the promise that took him to the heights of fourth in the world rankings . `` It is time to start a new chapter in life , '' the 33-year-old , who became a father for the first time in 2010 , said in a statement on his official website on Thursday . The German made headlines in 1997 when he reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon at the tender age of 19 , and won his home tournament in Halle two years later -- the third of his six titles on the ATP Tour as he earned more than $ 7 million on the circuit . He went on to claim an Olympic silver medal in doubles in 2004 with compatriot Rainer Schuttler , before progressing to the last four of the Australian Open in 2006 -- his best performance in a grand slam . What were the top tennis moments of 2010 ? However , after suffering a wrist injury that year , the player tipped to follow in the footsteps of six-time major winner Becker has struggled to get back to the top of the game , playing on the lowly Challenger Tour and slipping to a world ranking of just 722 . `` That 's going to follow me around my whole life , but that 's okay , '' Kiefer said of the comparisons in an exclusive interview with German newspaper Die Welt . `` There can only be one Boris Becker . He was my biggest motivator . I learned the most from him , and I 'm very grateful to him for that . `` Sometimes I just missed out by a pinch . But that 's what makes the difference between a Boris Becker and someone not so successful . '' Despite having previously said he wanted to continue playing until the 2012 Olympics in London , Kiefer is now looking forward to a new life away from the court with girlfriend Anna and five-month-old daughter Mabelle Emilienne . `` A couple of days ago I looked in the mirror and said to myself -- come on , you 've had a great career , you 've met lots of great people , traveled to lots of countries , and learnt so much . Enough . You 're a father now , you have a daughter , '' he said . `` The last few times I was away , I 've known what I 've been missing . Every evening I fall asleep next to my daughter Mabelle . Every morning I wake up next to her . Those are moments I do n't want to miss . '' Known as `` Kiwi '' to his fans , Kiefer will have more time to concentrate on interests away from tennis , including his favorite football team Hanover 96 -- for whom he scored a goal while playing in a friendly match in 2005 . Kiefer is also studying for a degree in sports management , and he told Die Welt that he may return to tennis in the future utilizing his newfound skills . `` It will be something exciting , interesting for me , '' he said . `` Maybe in tennis , as a manager or consultant . Why not ? ''
Nicolas Kiefer retires from professional tennis at the age of 33 . Former world number four wants to spend more time with his partner and baby daughter . German is currently ranked 722 after suffering wrist problems over the last couple of years . TL;DR