GOODBYE, ANGIE! THE GRAND FINALE AT THE KURPARK

Wimbledon flair in the history-rich Kurpark, awonderful Centre Court and a crowd eager to give a special tennis icon a memorable and unforgettable farewell.

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“It is the perfect stage for a special day full of emotions,” said Angelique Kerber, looking ahead to her final big match: On 20 June 2026 (from 15:30), the three-time Grand Slam winner will officially retire as a tennis professional on the sidelines of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt (20 to 27 June) tournament. The transition has long since been made: It has been since last year that Kerber has been acting as the Sports Director of the WTA 500 grass court event, held the week prior to Wimbledon (starting 29 June). During her playing days, she was already active as the tournament ambassador of her ‘passion project'.

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A duel between the former world’s best – a full set of Grand Slams!

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Kerber has invited her long-time friend, Ana Ivanovic, to the ultimate showdown on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court rounded off with an entertainment programme. The two 38-year-old players have both been at the top of the world rankings and, between them, have won all four majors: Kerber won the Australian Open and US Open in 2016, as well as Wimbledon in 2018, Ivanovic triumphed at the French Open in 2008.

“I am really looking forward to seeing Ana because, somehow, with this match the wheel will turn full circle. We have known each other for a very long time, she is one of my best friends and we always spent a lot of time together at tournaments, as well as away from the court,” Kerber says of her special friendship with Ivanovic, adding with a chuckle: “However, even for this last time, we won’t spare each other on the court!”

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Ivanovic has heard so much positive about Bad Homburg

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The Serbian is also counting down the days until this special reunion. “I am looking forward to being in Bad Homburg and on court with Angie to celebrate her great career. Over the years, we have shared so many moments on the Tour and it means a great deal to me to be a part of it, not only as a player but also as a friend,” Ivanovic points out; she is excited to experience the flair at the Kurpark: "I have already heard so many wonderful things about the tournament and the atmosphere there that I am really looking forward to experiencing it myself and celebrating Angie and all her achievements!"

Kerber and Ivanovic – they have had many encounters over the years on the WTA Tour. In important and competitive matches. In their very own way, both left their mark on an era.

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A matter of will: oldest number one and Serena specialist

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The final countdown is on for Kerber, the most successful German tennis player since Steffi Graf. That there will also be some tears on 20 June … is as good ascertain. Kerber knows that it is going to be emotional. For her, this memorable Saturday is about saying a proper farewell to her fans at home after her last professional match. In the meantime, she has become the happy mother of a daughter and a son, though tennis continues to play a big role in her life.

Kerber will, of course, be celebrated during her farewell match for her impressive successes, the way she handled setbacks, always got back up and, in the truest sense, fought back. It is no wonder the left-hander’s biography is titled ‘A Matter of Will’.

And Angie did ‘Angie things’: In 2016, at the age of28, she reached the top of the world rankings, making her the oldest debutante at world number one. Kerber (a part from Venus Williams) was the only player to beat the iconic Serena Williams twice in a Grand Slam final!

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Kerber’s Farewell as the launchpad for an exciting tournament week

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Her last match in a very great setting was on 31 July 2024 at the Olympic Games in Paris (quarter-final), when she lost in a very close encounter at the Stade Roland Garros in a third-set tiebreak against the eventual gold medal winner, Qinwen Zheng, from China. In total, Kerber played 1061 matches (683 wins) on the WTA Tour and triumphed at 14 tournaments.

It’s perfectly fine to feel a bit wistful when Angelique Kerber’s great career as a tennis pro officially comes to an end. However, the duel against her friend, Ana Ivanovic, is also the start to an exciting tournament week at the Kurpark, in search for the successor of last year's tournament champion, Jessica Pegula, within the framework of the WTA 500 event.

In 2025, the former US Open finalist came out on top in a high-quality three-set final against Iga Swiatek at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt. The Polish player, who, thanks to her six Grand Slam titles, is currently the most successful player on the WTA Tour, went on to celebrate her first Wimbledon triumph two weeks later.

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