Six days after revealing that the Paris Games would mark the end of her tennis career, Germany’s Angelique Kerber suffered a 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(6) defeat to Zheng Qinwen in the Olympic quarterfinals, bringing an end to her impressive tenure in the sport.
Prior to the commencement of the 2024 Olympic Games, the three-time Grand Slam winner announced her retirement, expressing, “While this decision may be the right one, it will never truly feel that way. Tennis has a special place in my heart, and I am grateful for the memories and opportunities it has provided me.”
In the quarterfinal match against Zheng Qinwen, Kerber came close to securing a spot in the medal rounds for the second time in her career. Despite leading 4-1 in the third set against the Australian Open finalist, victory slipped away as Zheng, who had previously fought through a challenging third-round match against Emma Navarro, mounted an impressive comeback. In a grueling 3-hour and 4-minute battle, Zheng displayed exceptional composure and determination to clinch the win.
Zheng now joins Li Na as the second Chinese player, male or female, to reach the singles semifinals at the Olympic Tennis Event. She will face gold-medal favorite Iga Swiatek in the next round, with Swiatek becoming the first Polish player in history to reach the Olympic semifinals in singles after defeating Danielle Collins of the United States.
The winner of the Zheng vs. Swiatek match will progress to the gold-medal final, while the loser will compete for the bronze. Swiatek currently holds a 6-0 advantage in head-to-head matchups against Zheng. (source: WTA, photo: Jimmie48)
