Picture Credit: Twitter
Former World No. 9 Andrea Petkovic has called it a career after losing to World No. 13 Belinda Bencic 2-6, 6-4, 4-6 in the opening round of the US Open. The 34-year-old Petkovic announced her plans to retire after the US Open. Bencic is set to face Sorana Cirstea in the second round after her opening match, which lasted for 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Bencic served exceptionally well to win 81% of the points (44/54) behind her first serve. But, she won only 46% points (12/26) on her second serve. The Swiss didn’t lose focus as she converted 50% of the breakpoints that she conquered (4/8).
Similarly, Andrea was also effective at converting 50% of the breakpoints that she bagged 2/4 points. However, that was not enough to win the match. After this match, the head-to-head between Bencic and Petkovic is now 3-1 in favour of Belinda.
After the match, Petkovic thanked Belinda for being her opponent in her last game. Petkovic said, "I was glad that it ended like this, with Belinda, somebody I love and respect so much. 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."
"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."
Andrea Petkovic then opened up about her condition as she has been taking painkillers and anti-inflammatories. The German then addressed that her physical condition led to her retirement and not the lack of passion.
"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," Petkovic said.
The former world number nine also addressed the future of tennis with stars like Iga Swiatek and Belinda, who will take the sport ahead. "I feel this is something that was happening the last two years. This year it kind of settled. We now have the stars who are going to be the future who are settling into their footprints, like Swiatek, Sakkari, Bencic, and Badosa, all these players who belong at the top and who will shape the narratives of the sport in the future," she added.
