Angelique Kerber announces retirement months after her comeback as a mother; confirms Paris Olympics to be her "finish line"

Angelique Kerber has announced her retirement from tennis, aged 36. The German will hang up her racquet after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Kerber, a former World No. 1, enjoyed a remarkable career spanning over two decades. She won three Grand Slam titles (the Australian Open and the US Open in 2016, and Wimbledon in 2018), falling just one French Open title short of completing the Career Grand Slam.

After announcing pregnancy in 2022 and welcoming her first child in February 2023, Angelique Kerber returned to competition earlier this year at the United Cup, representing her country. The former World No. 1 was off to a spectacular start as Team Germany, comprising of her, Alexander Zverev, and Laura Siegemund, among others, won the title. She, however, failed to make a mark in singles, with just seven wins against 14 losses to her name.

Kerber, who entered the Paris Olympics through protected ranking, has now announced that she will be hanging up her racquet following the event.

"The finish line. 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," Angelique Kerber wrote on Instagram.

The German also shared her agony at saying goodbye to the sport she loves “with all her heart.”

"And whereas this might actually be the right decision, it will never feel that way. Simply because I love the sport with all my heart and I’m thankful for the memories and opportunities it has given me."

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Angelique Kerber: "The Olympics have been more than just competitions"

Angelique Kerber pictured with gold medalist Monica Puig and bronze medalist Petra Kvitova at 2016 Rio Olympics (Image Source: Getty)

The 2024 event in Paris will mark Angelique Kerber’s third Olympic appearance after London 2012 and Rio 2016. At the event in Rio, the German won a silver medal in singles. Reminiscing about her past appearances, she wrote on Instagram:

"The Olympics, I’ve participated in so far, have been more than just competitions as they represent different chapters of my life as a tennis player: the climb, the peak… and now, the finish line."

In London, Kerber reached as far as the quarterfinals. About that campaign, she said:

"I was climbing the rankings steadily and every win helped me overcome my doubts & strengthened my self-belief. It all felt like new beginnings and I was carried by excitement to new heights. The year before, in 2011, I had almost turned my back on tennis and given up on my childhood dreams."

Kerber’s run to the final at Rio came during the season she won her first two Grand Slam titles. She said:

"My silver medal run was embedded in a rush of emotions that led to my second Grand Slam title in New York and the top of the rankings."

Angelique Kerber will retire at the Paris Olympics with 14 career titles to her name, including the three Majors.

"And now: #Paris2024 will mark the finish line of the most incredible journey I could have ever dreamed of growing up with a racket in my hand,” she said. “I will take the time and soak up every second of this final episode on court. Thank you all for your support - it means the world to me."

The German has drawn four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the opening round. Osaka, too, returned to competition earlier this year after giving birth to her first child in 2023.