At 36 years old, Angelique Kerber recently announced her retirement from tennis after a two-decade career.
As a new mom, Kerber wanted to return to tennis this season after giving birth to her daughter, Liana. Her 2024 season hasn’t gone to plan as far as winning records go: she’s compiled a 7-14 record. But perhaps more importantly for the German, she’s been able to play some of her most important tournaments one last time, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and Stuttgart Open. Her 2016 Australian Open and 2018 Wimbledon victories required upsetting Serena Williams, and her 2016 US Open victory forced her to battle back from a break down in the third set against Karolina Pliskova.
But what should fans know about Kerber’s results at the Olympics?
Angelique Kerber at the Olympics
London 2012
Kerber had come off a solid performance on grass at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships heading into the Olympics, reaching the semifinals. In London, Kerber dropped only three games in her first two matches and beat Venus Williams 7-6(5) 7-6(5) in a thrilling third-round encounter. By now, Kerber had begun to establish herself as a Top 10 player on tour.
In the quarterfinals, Kerber fell to Victoria Azarenka 6-4 7-6(5). Azarenka was one of Kerber’s toughest matchups, and the German trails their head-to-head 10-1.
Rio 2016
However, it was during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio when Kerber was arguably the biggest threat on the WTA Tour. She had a stellar year in 2016, more recently coming off a finalist appearance in Wimbledon, in addition to her Australian Open victory and Stuttgart Open win. On the slower hard courts of Rio, Kerber was able to break down opponents effortlessly.
Kerber did not drop a set en route to the final, and guaranteed herself at least a Silver Medal by taking out Madison Keys 6-3 7-5 in the semifinals. In the final, Kerber was outplayed by an inspiring Monica Puig of Puerto Rico. Kerber fell 6-4 4-6 6-1, struggling to hit through Puig’s aggression. Kerber’s Silver Medal result was one of 10 Silver Medals for Germany that year and became the first German Olympic medalist in singles to win since Steffi Graf.
A more historic achievement for Kerber: her 2016 Australian Open victory marked the first time a German woman won a Grand Slam since Steffi Graf did so.
Paris 2024
“Paris 2024 will mark the finish line of the most incredible journey I could have ever dreamed of growing up with a racket in my hand,” Kerber wrote on social media. “There are many more things I want to say and people to thank, which I will do once I completed my last match… but for now, I will take the time and soak up every second of this final episode on court.”
To make a deep run into this year’s Games, she’ll first have to go through former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Kerber leads the head-to-head 4-2, with all but one of their matches won in straight sets.
After a brutal 6-3 6-1 loss to Osaka at the 2017 US Open as the defending champion, Kerber won three consecutive matches against Osaka. She won those matches by hitting the ball deep into the court, allowing Osaka to misfire and be out of position. While Kerber struggles more on clay courts, she’ll likely have to use that strategy to win against an aggressive opponent like Osaka.
Kerber will also play doubles at this year’s Olympics, alongside Laura Siegemund. She’s played with Sabine Lisicki and Andrea Petkovic during Kerber’s last two Olympics.
The German will be one of two multi-Grand Slam champions to retire from tennis next week (alongside Andy Murray), and she’ll likely be a lock for a Hall of Fame spot in 2029.
“And whereas this might actually be the right decision,” Kerber wrote of retirement, “it will never feel that way. Simply because I love the sport with all my heart and I’m thankful for the memories and opportunities it has given me.”
Main Photo Credit: Taya Gray-Desert Sun/USAToday Sports
