Tennis-Kerber falls to Zheng in three sets to bow out of tennis

PARIS - German veteran Angelique Kerber bowed out of professional tennis at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday after losing a thrilling quarter-final 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(6) to Chinese world No. 7 Zheng Qinwen.

Her run to the last eight in Paris was Kerber's best result this year. The 36-year-old had already announced she would hang up her rackets following the Olympics, having returned from maternity leave in January.

"I've achieved everything I dreamt of," the three-time Grand Slam champion said. "I was number one, won Grand Slams, won a (silver) medal in Rio, so what more could you want in the end?"

Kerber triumphed at the 2016 Australian and U.S. Opens before claiming the Wimbledon title two years later.

"I'm proud of everything I've achieved in my career, of what I've achieved here, what I did on the court."

After two tough sets, Kerber surged to a 4-1 lead in the third set and received a standing ovation from an enthusiastic French crowd.

But just when it seemed that the German was going to prolong her career for at least another match, she ran out of steam on a hot and humid Philippe Chatrier court and lost 10 points in a row, allowing Zheng to fight back to 4-4.

Zheng then produced a barrage of powerful shots to win the tiebreak and end Kerber's distinguished career.

Zheng is the second Chinese player to reach the singles semi-finals at an Olympics after Li Na, who finished fourth at the Beijing 2008 Games.

"She's the first one, first Chinese woman to win everything in tennis. I looked up to her since I was a little kid but I'm not trying to copy her, just trying to be myself. And let's see where I can arrive in tennis," Zheng said. REUTERS