Six days after announcing that the Paris Games would be the final tournament of her career, Germany’s Angelique Kerber lost to Zheng Qinwen 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(6) in the quarterfinals of the Olympics, marking the end of her illustrious tennis career.
Before the start of the 2024 Olympic Games, the three-time Grand Slam champion revealed her decision to retire, stating, “While 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.”
Playing against sixth-seeded Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, Kerber was just two games away from advancing to the medal rounds for the second time in her career. Leading the Australian Open finalist 4-1 in the third set, Kerber seemed poised for victory. However, Zheng, who had previously saved a match point in a grueling 3-hour and 12-minute third-round win over American Emma Navarro, rallied impressively. In a match that lasted 3 hours and 4 minutes, Zheng served to stay in the match twice in the third set. In a thrilling final-set tiebreak, she showed remarkable composure and determination to secure the victory.
Zheng has become the second Chinese player, male or female, to reach the singles semifinals at the…
