By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday June 21, 2022
Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber – a former World No.16 that has racked up 478 victories on tour – will call it a career at Wimbledon.
The 38-year-old, who will face Mikhail Kukushkin in the second round of Wimbledon qualifying on Wednesday, broke the news on court after his first qualifying victory.
"It’s been a wonderful career,” he said on court after defeating Gregoire Barrere, 6-2, 6-2, on Monday at Roehampton. “It’s going to be my last tournament. I’m going to stop after Wimbledon, so I’m pretty happy that I have another match here – and maybe I can make it through to the main draw.”
Kohlschreiber, a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist who owns a 77-67 record at the Grand Slams, reached the quarterfinals at SW19 in 2012, before losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets. The German stayed inside the Top-100 from March 6, 2006 to February 21, 2021, a remarkable run of consistency.
And he was a threat to win on all surfaces.
Kohlschreiber owns five career titles and has reached the second week of all four Grand Slams.
“I just want to finish and for sure it will be kind of a special moment,” Kohlschreiber said. “I’m more of a quiet person, I don’t want to be saying it’s my last season blah, blah, blah, but now a few people already know that it’s going to be my last tournament and I will try to just enjoy every match.
“It has been a very long journey, I have great memories, especially here with my biggest success in a Grand Slam, so yes, maybe the last breath will be pretty long.”
Minella, Former World No.66, Also Retiring after Wimbledon
Mandy Minella, 36, has also announced that the end of her career will come on Wimbledon's field of dreams in 2022. The former World No.66 from Luxembourg won her first round of qualifying against Na-Lae Han 6-2, 0-6, 6-2, and will face Maddison Inglis of Australia next.