Angelique Kerber pulls out of US Open after confirming pregnancy

The 2016 champion in New York has announced that she will be out of the game for the "next few months".

Angelique Kerber has pulled out of the upcoming US Open after confirming pregnancy.  | Photo Credit: AFP

Angelique Kerber has pulled out of the upcoming US Open after confirming pregnancy. The 2016 champion in New York has announced that she will be out of the game for the "next few months".

The left-handed Kerber, 34, last played at Wimbledon where she lost in the third round to Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

She won her maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2016 before lifting the U.S. Open the same year to climb to the top of the women’s world rankings.

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

"I really wanted to play the @usopen but eventually I decided that two against one just isn‘t a fair competition," Kerber tweeted on Monday. "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! I will miss all of you."

She continued: “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 @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.