Recently-retired Mardy Fish has claimed that he hopes to be a role model for people who are suffering with severe anxiety.

The American ended his career with a five-set defeat to Feliciano Lopez at the US Open on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old, who has been struggling with an anxiety disorder for the last three years, cramped up in his legs during the fifth set which led to his defeat on the court at Flushing Meadows.

When asked by reporters what part of his life aside from tennis he would want people to remember, Fish said: "We are trained as tennis players from a very young age to not show weakness. I was very good at that throughout my career. I would not complain very much if I didn't feel well or, you know, fake it on the court if I didn't feel well, and, you know, not show that side of it.

"So I'm sort of out front with that part of my life because it helps me a lot when I talk about it. Makes me feel better when I talk about it. I want to help people that have gone through it and try to be a role model for people that are deep into some bad times, that they can get out of it, because I was there. They can conquer it."

Fish's highest ranking in the world standings was number 14.