Dutchman Verkerk Retires

A few weeks after his compatriot announced his return to competitive tennis, the unexpected Slam finalist throws in the towel.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP)—Martin Verkerk is quitting tennis after a career in which he reached the 2003 French Open final.

“It had been my plan to play more matches,” the Dutchman said Tuesday. “It’s a pity it didn’t work out.”

The big serving Verkerk, winner of two ATP tournaments at Milan in 2003 and the Dutch Open a year later, lost the French Open final to Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003.

The 30-year-old Verkerk played for 12 years and earned $1.5 million.