STARNBERG, January 2, 2018

Nils Langer has put an end to his international career. “I will keep myself fit in order to play some national tournaments and to compete in the German Bundesliga for Aachen. However, I will stop travelling the tour week by week,” the 27-year-old German told the Marbacher Zeitung.

Langer experienced a season with a lot of ups and downs. The current World No. 459 had a good start into 2017 by reaching his first final on the ATP Challenger Tour at the Conlog Arena in Koblenz in January but could only seal one match win between May and August.

“After finishing runner-up in Koblenz, I caught the flu but continued playing and did not take a rest to fully recover. Later in the year, I injured my back and I was sidelined from the courts for several weeks,” Langer explained.

After the ITF Futures in Essen in August he took the decision to end his international tennis career. “I had to retire in my opening match due to injury. Then there was a point where I said it would not work anymore. It is very nice to be somewhere else every week and to play tournaments. I am very grateful for this time but if you are constantly struggling with health problems, then it is also very exhausting and eventually impossible to cope with.”

Langer captured eight ITF Pro Circuit singles titles and reached a career high at World No. 188 in June 2016. His highlights on the tennis tour, however, are the Grand Slams. Although, he did not make it into the main draw, Langer played the qualifying at all four majors.

“Of course it is nice to play a final at ATP Challenger level but competing at the venue of the Grand Slams is a dream of every tennis player.”

The right-hander currently works at the Tennis Academy in Stuttgart-Kemnat alongside former German Davis Cup player Andreas Beck. Langer also started to study the basics of sports management.

“I currently live with my partens at home in Affalterbach but I am looking for my own appartment.” A new chapter in Langer’s life has just begun.