Angelique Kerber to retire after Olympics, Andy Murray out of singles

Germany's Angelique Kerber returns the ball to Russia's Anastasia Gasanova during their WTA Bad Homburg tournament tennis match, in Bad Homburg, Germany, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (Joaquim Ferreira/dpa via AP)

One of the most versatile players in tennis will call it a career after the Paris Olympics.

Germany’s Angelique Kerber announced Thursday she will retire after playing singles and doubles at Roland Garros.

The 36-year-old Kerber is the only active WTA player to win singles titles at three of the four Grand Slams — the 2016 Australian Open, 2016 U.S. Open and 2018 Wimbledon. She twice reached the quarterfinals at the French Open, played on the same courts as the Olympics.

Kerber won 14 overall titles and spent 34 weeks as the world No. 1 player. She returned to the tour this year after being off for a year and a half.

“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,” Kerber wrote on Instagram.

Kerber will face Japan’s Naomi Osaka in a marquee first-round match in Paris.

Meanwhile, Great Britain great Andy Murray announced he is withdrawing from the Olympic singles competition to focus strictly on doubles with Dan Evans.

Murray, who has been dealing with a back injury, already has confirmed he will retire after the Olympics.

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