Angelique Kerber has introduced she is pregnant and can take a break from tennis for the following few months, together with the upcoming US Open.
The three-time grand slam champion will miss the event at Flushing Meadows, joking on Twitter: “I actually needed to play the US Open however finally I made a decision that two in opposition to one simply isn’t a good competitors.
“For the following months, I’ll take a break from travelling the globe as a tennis participant however then once more, I consider it’s for the very best purpose,” the 34-year-old added. “I’ll miss all of you.”
“New York has usually been a turning level in my profession and it appears like this 12 months can be no completely different in a roundabout way,” Kerber continued. “From restarting my profession in 2011 to successful the title in 2016 and turning into No 1 on the planet. The US Open has a particular place in my coronary heart, and I want I may have stated goodbye to all of you on courtroom earlier than not being round on tour for some time.”
Kerber, who received Wimbledon in 2018 and each the Australian Open and US Open in 2016, is at present No 52 on the planet, having dropped 20 locations in the newest WTA rankings.
“Being an expert athlete means every part to me however I’m grateful for the brand new path I’m heading to,” she concluded. “To be sincere, I’m nervous and excited on the similar time. Thanks to your continued assist – it means every part to me.”
Kerber’s compatriot Alexander Zverev can even miss the US Open as he continues his restoration from ankle surgical procedure. The world No 2 has stated he’s “tremendous blissful” along with his progress, regardless of being unable to play in New York subsequent week.
“The restoration goes extraordinarily nicely,” Zverev stated in a video posted on Instagram. “I’m tremendous blissful the place I’m proper now, however sadly I can’t come to New York this 12 months. It was a really powerful resolution, however the way in which the restoration goes … I simply don’t wish to take the chance and play best-of-five units as my first match again.”
The 25-year-old required surgical procedure to repair broken ligaments in his proper ankle following a freak harm throughout this 12 months’s French Open semi-final in opposition to Rafa Nadal. The US Open organisers confirmed on Monday that Zverev, runner-up in 2020 to Dominic Thiem, had withdrawn from the occasion.
