Angelique Kerber, a former World No. 1, has stated that she will retire from competitive tennis following the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Kerber won the silver medal in Tokyo Olympics
Kerber earned the silver medal in the women’s singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, losing to Puerto Rican Monica Puig. In the same year, she won the Australian Open, then the US Open. That year, she also achieved her career-high position of No. 1 on the WTA Tour.
Also read: Paris Olympics: Indian women’s team finishes 4th in Archery ranking round
Kerber took the decision because she felt her body “needed rest”
Kerber decided not compete in the Tokyo Olympic Games because she thought her body “needed rest.” After taking an 18-month break to become a mother, the 36-year-old returned to the WTA tour. She has 14 titles in her career with a win-loss record of 680-377.
Kerber said that deciding to move away from the game was the “toughest decision” but also felt that it was the right time to hang her boots.
“Before the Olympics begin, I can already say that I will never forget #Paris2024, because it will be my last professional tournament as a tennis player,” Kerber wrote in a lengthy post on social media.
Also read: Hockey: Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh to retire after Paris Olympics
Kerber terms her journey as “incredible”
“Paris 2024 will mark the finish line of the most incredible journey I could have ever dreamed of growing up with a racket in my hand,” Kerber added.
Kerber also won Wimbledon in 2018 and advanced to the French Open quarterfinals in 2012 and 2018, respectively. Kerber and Alexander Zverev are two of the most well-known German tennis players in Paris.
