Former US Open champion Angelique Kerber has withdrawn from the last grand slam of the year after announcing her pregnancy.
Kerber hadn’t played any warm-up tournaments for the US Open and the German’s last match was her third round defeat to Elise Mertens at Wimbledon.
Questions were raised about her absence and it seems like we have our answer as this morning the German announced that she is pregnant and will miss the final grand slam of the year.
Taking to social media the 34 year-old announced the news and said that she will be taking time off the tour, “I really wanted to play the US Open but eventually I decided that two against one just isn’t a fair competition,” Kerber joked on Twitter.
“For the next months I will take a break from travelling the globe as a tennis player but then again, I believe it’s for the best possible reason! I will miss all of you.
“New York has often been a turning point in my career and it feels like this year will be no different in some way! From restarting my career in 2011 to winning the title in 2016 and becoming number 1 in the world. The US Open have a special place in my heart and I wish I could have said goodbye to all of you on court before not being on tour for a while.
“Being a professional athlete means everything to me but I’m grateful for the new path I’m heading to. To be honest, I’m nervous and excited at the same time.”
It’s reported that Kerber will have the baby in Spring next year before potentially returning for Wimbledon and the Olympics next year.
Kerber has won one title this year which was in Strasbourg and is currently outside the world’s top 50.
A big congratulations to Kerber and it will be interesting to see how having a family will impact her tennis career when she comes back.
