Staff Reporter.
Former women’s world No 1 Angelique Kerber announced on Wednesday that she is pregnant and has withdrawn from next week’s US Open joking “two against one just isn’t a fair competition.”
The 34-year-old German added that Flushing Meadow holds great memories for her. She won the title there in 2016 and, as a result, became world No 1.
“From restarting my career in 2011 (ranked 92 she reached the semifinals) to winning the title in 2016 and becoming #1 in the world.”
Kerber – who won the 2016 Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2018 – said she was excited about her new chapter.
“Being a professional athlete means everything to me but I’m grateful for the new path I’m heading to,” she said. “To be honest, I’m nervous and excited at the same time.”
I really wanted to play the @usopen but eventually I decided that two against one just isn‘t a fair competition ????❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y6rRYOIUDR
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) August 24, 2022
Kerber’s compatriot Alexander Zverev will also miss the US Open as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery. The world No 2 has said he is “super happy” with his progress, despite being unable to play in New York next week.
“The recovery is going extremely well,” Zverev said in a video posted on Instagram. “I am super happy where I am right now, but unfortunately I will not come to New York this year. It was a very tough decision, but the way the recovery is going … I just don’t want to take the risk and play best-of-five sets as my first match back.”
The 25-year-old required surgery to fix damaged ligaments in his right ankle following a freak injury during this year’s French Open semi-final against Rafa Nadal. The US Open organisers confirmed on Monday that Zverev, runner-up in 2020 to Dominic Thiem, had withdrawn from the event.