Angelique Kerber returns to court for final time at Bad Homburg Open in poignant farewell match

Angelique Kerber stepped back onto the court for the last time ahead of the Bad Homburg Open, taking on good friend Ana Ivanovic in an emotional farewell to the sport. Past and current icons were there watching on with Boris Becker and Iga Swiatek in attendance.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has enjoyed a jubilant career full of many triumphs and successes. In her prime one of the best tennis players in the world, she was world number one for a grand total of 34 weeks while amassing a grand total of 14 WTA titles and a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics.

It was a different Olympic games that she decided to halt her career indefinitely. The 2024 Paris Olympics would be her final time competing professionally on court, defeating Naomi Osaka, Jaqueline Cristian and Leylah Fernandez in a brilliant run at Roland Garros before eventual champion Qinwen Zheng halted her progress in the quarter-finals. Kerber was a set up and pushed the Chinese to a third set tiebreak, but dud not prevail in a dramatic final match.

Or that was supposed to be the case. She has played in a number of legends doubles matches in a number of tournaments, but her official farewell came in the form of a singles match at the Bad Homburg Open on home soil.

In front of a jam-packed crowd full of passionate German fans, Kerber and Ivanovic out on a show. Kerber would show her class and in the end prevailed 6-3, 7-5 in an entertaining and closely fought contest.

4000 people in total came to watch the event. That included a German legend in the form of Becker who posted a picture of Kerber at the end doing an on-court interview on his Instagram story. Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek was also among the people watching on. She reposted a story by the official Bad Homburg account which saw her leaning over the advertising board to interact with Kerber, congratulating the brilliant career she has enjoyed.

The tournament left a final message for Kerber: "The final serve for Angie! What a special way to close out an incredible playing career: one last match, on grass, alongside her good friend Ana Ivanovic. Thank you to everyone who helped make this moment so special."

Day one was a joyous occasion, but the serious stuff gets underway with the opening round beginning on the Sunday. The tournament was first played in 2021, which saw Kerber become the champion.

Last year, Jessica Pegula triumphed in Germany against Swiatek. A beast was released from that point as the Pole went on to win Wimbledon in a truly remarkable display on a surface that she has not grown fond of over the years.

Back on grass, there is a lot of points to defend and she will be very hopeful to get up and running with a title and a positive trend of results heading to that highly anticipated Wimbledon title defence. Someone who is not in short of good form is Mirra Andreeva. Coming off the clay swing of her life which included lifting the Roland Garros title, the 19-year-old will be a firm contender for all the big titles in 2026.

Elina Svitolina and Karolina Muchova are the other top four seeds competing. Both are enjoying marvellous 2026 campaigns and will be wanting for that to continue on grass. It is a very stacked lineup in Bad Homburg. Berlin finalist Linda Noskova adds to the Czech contingent competing with Ekaterina Alexandrova, Naomi Osaka, Iva Jovic, Sorana Cirstea, Elise Mertens, Diana Shnaider, Emma Navarro and Anastasia Potapova all among the names involved in the WTA 500 event.