This year’s US Open might be dominated by the news surrounding the likelihood that it will be Serena Williams’ last tournament but she is not the only player stepping away from the sport in New York.
On Tuesday former world No.9, Andrea Petkovic, confirmed that her loss to Belinda Bencic was the final Grand Slam match of her career. The German has been a formidable name in women’s tennis ever since 2011 when she reached the quarter-finals of three Grand Slams within the same year. It was during that year that she cracked the top 10 to become the first player from her country to do so since Stefi Graf. She has won seven WTA titles and was also runner-up at six other Tour events.
Petkovic’s career was ended by Switzerland’s Bencic who won their encounter 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, on Court seven. Despite losing, the fighting spirit of the 34-year-old was a silver lining for her.
“I was glad that it ended like this, with Belinda, somebody I love and respect so much,” wtatour.com quoted Petkovic as telling reporters after the match. “Also that I could bring to the last match everything that I brought to my career, which was grit and tenacity and just respect for the game and for my opponents.”
The decision to walk away from the sport hasn’t been an easy one. Going through an array of emotions in recent days, Petkovic admits that it is her body not allowing her to continue even if she wants to.
“I think for me I still love the game, still have a tremendous amount of passion for the game,” Petkovic said. “It’s more the body that is not allowing me to play tennis anymore in a way that I want to play it, train the way I want to train, just play a full season really.”
“The last four weeks I’ve just been playing with painkillers and anti-inflammatories. That was just the part that made me decide not to continue anymore, not the lack of passion or want for the game. So I think that was the saddest part in a way.” She added.
The US Open was Petkovic’s 49th appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam. She has played on the WTA Tour for a total of 16 years.
“Every American that I encountered and told them I’m retiring, their first reaction was, Congratulations. Every European I told this, they were, Oh, my God, what are you going to do now? I have to say the last few days I’ve embraced the American way of looking at it a little bit more.”
Petkovic hasn’t ruled out the possibility of playing an exhibition in her home country as a farewell to the sport.
Querrey calls it a day
In the men’s draw, Sam Querrey concluded his last-ever match with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(8), 6-3, loss to Belarus’ Ilya Ivashka. Unlike Petkovic, retirement had been on the American’s mind for the past six months but it was six weeks ago when he made the decision.
“I came to terms with it. And it felt great,” Querrey said. “The last six weeks have been very enjoyable, just kind of mentally.”
A former world No.11, Querrey is best known for reaching the semifinals of the 2017 Wimbledon championships, as well as the quarter-finals of the US Open that same year. He has produced more than 20 wins over top 10 players, including Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic when they were ranked No.1. On the ATP Tour has played in 20 finals, winning titles at ten of those.
Querrey, who is 34 and has two children, ends his career with 60 appearances in Grand Slam tournaments. When asked what his plans for the future are, he didn’t give much away.
“There’s something I’m working on,” Querrey said, promising news in the near future.
