Andrea Jaeger was once one of the brightest young stars in women’s tennis. Known for her explosive rise in the early 1980s, she reached the elite of the sport before abruptly stepping away at the age of 19 due to a shoulder injury. However, her story has a dark side she only revealed years later.
Born in Chicago in 1965, Jaeger began playing tennis competitively at a young age and quickly drew national attention. She turned pro in 1980 at just 14 years old, and within two years had climbed to No. 2 in the world rankings.
“I turned pro at 14 and worked my way through pre-qualifying to qualifying to main draws, and every single experience was a new one and fun and exciting,” Jaeger said on the WTA Insider Podcast in 2019.
During her career, Jaeger reached the final of the 1982 French Open, as well as Wimbledon final in 1983. She also reached the semifinals at the Australian Open and US Open. In total, she won six WTA singles titles and was a consistent challenger to legends like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
Andrea Jaeger during the 1979 Wimbledon (Tony Duffy /Allsport)
But while she seemed poised to have one of the most successful careers, it turned out she was suffering in silence. When she announced her retirement at only 19 years old, she shocked the world and she was described as “lost.” It was only in 2022, when she revealed the hidden truth behind her decision.
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A career cut short due to abuse in the tennis’ circuit
In a lenghty interview with The Independent UK, Jaeger claimed that she was victim of abuse and sexual harassment during her years in the WTA Tour, even being was bullied by other players in the locker room.
“I had situations where I’d go to get my racket and the strings would be cut,” she told the outlet in 2022. “When I went to put on my shoes, someone had left razor blades inside them,” she claimed.
Apart from that, other players made inappropiate comments about her body. “My constant thought was, who is the kid here, me or them? It was so gross. It was disgusting, really,” she told the outlet.
She also claimed that a female WTA staff member harassed her, and “had a major problem keeping her hands to herself.” She said that the incidents took place very early in her career, making her avoid the physio room if other players weren’t present.
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She tanked the Wimbledon final
In the interview, she also revealed that she chose not to confide in her parents, especially her father, Roland, a former boxer known for his temper. According to her account, this played a role in her decision to intentionally lose the Wimbledon final against Martina Navratilova.
The night before the match, other parents had approached Roland to discuss concerns about the safety of children on tour. When he confronted her afterward, she fled the apartment. The next day, emotionally overwhelmed, she stepped onto Centre Court with no intention of winning.
However, the constant abuse she endured, made her physically sick. “I was in the hospital having surgery, and I felt safe,” she told the outlet, admitting that injuries were a means of escape.
“My story was that she couldn’t handle the pressure… I could play in a tornado and still win a match,” she said. “I never had a problem with pressure. I had a problem trying to keep myself safe and sane at the same time.”
Retirement and charitable work
As Jaeger spent more time out of the tour, she also started her charity work, visiting hospitals and children with terminal illnesses. However, she revealed that the WTA executive told her she couldn’t do that anymore because “it made” them “look bad.”
So, when she suffered a shoulder injury at the 1984 French Open, she decided to retire to dedicate herself to charity. “For me, giving back was always number one,” Jaeger told the WTA Podcast in 2019. “If I could have played pro tennis and done charity work all the time, I would have done it.”
Jaeger in 2006 (David Livingston/Getty Images)
“For me it was a little bit more natural because I always wanted to help others. I think I had a gift for service rather than an individual athlete. So I think it was difficult for me to have that killer instinct in an individual sport,” she explained.
After leaving tennis, Jaeger turned to a life of service. She studied theology and later became an Anglican Dominican nun. In 1990, she founded the Little Star Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The organization provides long-term care, education, and outreach programs to children in need.
