PARIS: Angelique Kerber’s tennis career came to an end when the former world number one and three-time grand slam champion lost 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) against Zheng Qinwen in the Paris Olympics quarter-finals.
The sixth-seeded Australian Open runner-up Zheng prevailed in a concluding tie-break after 3 hours 4 minutes on a fourth match point, coming back from 4-1 down in the final set, according to German news agency (dpa). She had lost the first set from 5-3 up at the French Open venue of Roland Garros.
German Kerber announced last week that the Olympics would be her final tournament. She won the Australian and US Open in 2016, an Olympic silver the year, and Wimbledon in 2018. She won 14 career titles and spent 34 weeks at the top of the world rankings.
The 36-year-old had not been able to return to the form of the past since coming back from maternity leave in January.
But she impressed one final time at the Olympics where she beat former world number one Naomi Osaka, Romanian Jacqueline Cristian and former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez of Canada before it all ended.
In the semis, Zheng faces either three-time reigning French Open champion and world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland or American Danielle Collins. Swiatek is unbeaten in 24 matches at the venue. – BERNAMA-dpa
