If Venus Williams’ three-set loss to Karolina Muchova was her last blast at the US Open, she made it a good one

Tennis isn’t typically a game of two against one, and Angelique Kerber announced her presence on court would be just that as a result of her pregnancy before the US Open.

“For the next months, I will take a break from traveling the globe as a tennis player but then again, I believe it’s for the best possible reason,” the former world No. 1 revealed on social media. “I will miss all of you.”

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I really wanted to play the @usopen but eventually I decided that two against one just isn‘t a fair competition 👼🫶🏻🍼❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y6rRYOIUDR
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) August 24, 2022

Kerber expressed disappointment at being unable to play one last tournament before her maternity leave, particularly one as important to her Hall of Fame resume as the season’s final major tournament.

“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 #1 in the world.”

The German burst onto the scene in 2011, reaching the semifinals despite being unseeded; five years later she assured herself the No. 1 ranking by winning her second major title in Flushing Meadows.

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the @usopen have a special place in my heart and I wish I could have said goodbye to all of you on court before not being around on tour for a while.
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) August 24, 2022

Atop the WTA rankings for a total 34 weeks, she won her most recent Grand Slam title over Serena Williams at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships, and after some years of struggle, returned to the semifinals at the All England Club last summer.

Kerber pointedly did not confirm her retirement in her posts, implying a desire to return to action following the birth of her first child.

Should she mount a comeback, she would join the ranks of tour moms like Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Tatjana Maria—among many others in the last decade.

"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. Thanks for your continued support—it means everything to me #TeamAngie."

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