Petra Kvitova Hangs Up Her Racquet After a Successful Career
Czech tennis player Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, announced her retirement from professional tennis at the US Open this Monday, ending a distinguished career that led her to win 31 titles worldwide. Kvitova, 35, who triumphed at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, and reached number 2 in the world ranking, said goodbye to the tournament after being defeated 6-1, 6-0 by Frenchwoman Diane Parry in the first round in New York. Visibly emotional, the tennis player hugged her husband and coach, Jiri Vanek, after the match.In an on-court interview, after a video celebrating her career, Kvitova expressed her gratitude to New York for this incredible grand slam. “I am very happy to be here for my last dance,” she added. The Czech tennis player also reached another Grand Slam final, at the Australian Open in 2019, after returning to the circuit in 2017, just six months after undergoing surgery on her left hand, which saved her career, after defending herself from an intruder who entered her home. Kvitova had her first child in July 2024 and returned to the circuit in March of this year.I was hoping to put on a better show today. But it was difficult knowing it could be my last match, and emotionally it was also very tough.
Petra Kvitova
