Austrian tennis veteran Jurgen Melzer has left a heartfelt note on Instagram ahead of his career-last tournament. The 37-year-old is set to retire from professional tennis in front of his home fans at next week's Erste Bank Open 500 on Vienna.

The Austrian, who debuted at the Vienna event in 1999, is set to make his 16th appearance at the tournament. Melzer, a former world No. 8, has been handed a Vienna main draw wildcard by the tournament organizers as he is now ranked at No.

425. The Austrian five-time ATP champion underwent an elbow surgery in 2017 October -- but refused to quit the game though he was 36 years old at the time of the surgery. Melzer has made it all the way in Vienna three so far in his career as he captured singles back-to-back titles at the tournament in 2009 and 2010.

The Austrian captured his maiden Vienna doubles title in 2014 when he made it all the way with German Philipp Petzschner. The 37-year-old Austrian is a 13-time ATP men's doubles champion and a former doubles world No.

6. "One last time! That was my motto when I was fighting for my comeback after (the) elbow surgery. One last time I will be playing the Vienna tournament in singles One last time I will be coached by Jocke, Jan and Ronnie.

One last time I will soak in the atmosphere of the Vienna crowd. One last time my wife, parents and friends will be cheering in the box. I can't wait for it. Let's make it count," Melzer wrote on Instagram. Also read: I highly doubt I will play the 2019 Davis Cup, says Roger Federer