‘Playing With Painkillers and Anti-Inflammatories’ – German Star Weeps in Agony As She Follows Serena Williams in Announcing Retirement at U.S. Open 2022

Andrea Petkovic, the former World No.9, lost her final Grand Slam match on Tuesday. She lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to World No.13 Belinda Bencic in the first round of the U.S. Open. Soon after, the 34-year-old Petkovic announced her plans to retire after the U.S. Open.

The former top-10 player made her announcement after 16 years on the WTA tour. She found it difficult to maintain a regular schedule of games and training because of the growing number of injuries and niggles. Due to an adductor injury, the German was unable to complete her match against Annet Kontaveit in Hamburg and left the court in tears.

Andrea Petkovic bid a tearful farewell at the U.S. Open

Andrea Petkovic‘s emotional farewell at the U.S. Open on Tuesday proved how important tennis has been to the German. The 34-year-old wasn’t the only one in tears on the court, as fans felt the weight of the moment after she announced on Sunday that she would be retiring after the U.S. Open.

Petkovic stated after the game, “It was just pure sadness, which is also sometimes nice in a way. It was very pure. It wasn’t really negative. It was just exhausting.”  She added, “I think for me I still love the game, still have a tremendous amount of passion for the game.”

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She also talked about how the increasing number of injuries and niggles made it difficult for her to maintain a regular schedule of games and training. “This year was really I had constantly to skip tournaments and to take breaks.” “The last four weeks I’ve just been playing with painkillers and antiinflammatories.”

She received loud chants of support and standing ovations throughout the entire game.

Petkovic’s WTA tour

On the Hologic WTA Tour, she won seven singles titles, the biggest coming in Charleston. She also reached the French Open semifinals in 2014 and the Australian and U.S. Open quarterfinals.

Petkovic represented Germany in the Fed Cup final in 2014, losing to the Czech Republic. Petkovic, who is currently ranked No.104, reached a career-high ranking of No.9 in 2011. She became the first German woman to do so since Stefanie Graf in 1999.

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