'I like to suffer, I like to fight,' Former ATP World No. 4 Nicolas Kiefer prepares to literally run through a new chapter of life with the Boston Marathon at his heels

Ever since hanging his racket, the German tennis player has started running marathons. Kiefer played tennis for 15 years and hung up his racket in 2010. Since then, the former ATP World No. 4 has run 12 marathons and is now planning to take it a notch higher by taking part in the Boston Marathon.

Kiefer has also given his reasons for taking part in the marathon. The 46-year-old has said that he likes to suffer and likes to fight. Kiefer says that he is looking to soak up the atmosphere. 

In the beginning, everybody is nervous. They wait for the signal to start, but then somehow, after 1K or 2K, my first question comes, 'Why do I do this?' I like to suffer, I like to fight, and I like the last 5 to 6 kilometers. I'm just happy to soak up the atmosphere, I've heard so many good things. Nicolas Kiefer said. (H/T: WMUR)

Nicolas Kiefer follows into Monic Puig’s footsteps

Nicolas Kiefer is not the first tennis player who will be running the Boston Marathon. Renowned Puerto Rican tennis ace Monica Puig has already run the prestigious marathon. Last year, the Olympic gold medalist finished the Boston Marathon with her husband, Nathan Rakitt. 

Puig is on a mission to complete the six most prestigious marathons so that she can earn the Six Star medal from the Abbott World Major Marathons.

She and her husband aim to achieve this by this year, and the couple is halfway down the line, having run three of them (New York, Boston, and London). The remaining three—Chicago, Berlin, and Tokyo—remain the goal.

The Puerto Rican has revealed how running marathons saved her from descending into depression. She claims that finishing marathons gives her a sense of satisfaction.

It’s more about showing myself that I didn’t let myself fall into this big black hole of depression and sadness when I had to finish my career so early. I was able to pick myself back up and find something else that motivates me to get out of bed every day, that motivates me to continue to be strong, fit, and have fun at the same time. Monica Puig had said last year. (H/T: CNN)

While Kiefer also feels the same way is not known, he surely can look up to the descendant Puig has set with her achievements in this field.