Latest news with #Petr
France 24
29-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Kvitova relishes chance for farewell at 'special' Wimbledon
Kvitova returned from maternity leave in February following the birth of her son Petr in 2024, but quickly found it difficult to handle the demands of being a mother on the gruelling tennis circuit. The 35-year-old Czech announced last week that she will bring the curtain down on her career after the US Open in August. Kvitova's decision gives the former world number two, who has won 31 titles in her career, one last opportunity to return to the scene of her most memorable triumphs. A raw 21-year-old when she stunned Maria Sharapova to win the 2011 Wimbledon final, three years later Kvitova returned to the All England Club title match to rout Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0. Those golden memories will be on her mind when when she steps on court at Wimbledon against Spanish 10th seed Emma Navarro in the first round on Tuesday. "I knew that I will not carry on for a long time because I was already tired before and tennis is a very difficult sport. Of course with a baby it's not that easy, and I'm not that young any more," Kvitova told reporters at Wimbledon on Sunday. "My body, it's struggling a little bit, it's just too much probably. I had the time when I said, 'OK, I'm done, I don't want to put myself in this situation'. "I wanted to enjoy Wimbledon. I wanted to know, even for myself, that it will be my last one because it's so many memories I have, even the bad ones. "Most important are the two great ones. It's always been my special tournament and that's why I wanted to say it out loud before it starts." Asked for her favourite All England Club moment, the left-hander cited the final minutes before she clinched the trophy for the first time. "I think it was the first one, when I had 5-4 and I was going to serve for the match," she said. "I do remember I was sitting on the bench and I was telling myself it's maybe just one chance in my life so I should try to do it." Now ranked 572, Kvitova has lost seven of her eight matches since becoming a parent. She will not miss the pre-match nerves, saying she often looked "as white as a wall" before taking to the court. But the thrill of proving herself against elite opponents will be hard to replace for a player who, in her heyday, reached three Grand Slam finals and won the WTA Finals in 2011. "It's a beautiful sport," she said. "I'm not sure how I'm going to feel but every time stepping here in Wimbledon it's very special.
Western Telegraph
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Western Telegraph
Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova prepares for her last dance in SW19
The two-time women's singles champion only returned to the sport in February following the birth of son Petr a year ago but announced last week that she plans to call it a day after the US Open later this summer. Kvitova is a former world number two and winner of 31 titles but her name will always be associated most with Wimbledon. She was a shy 21-year-old from small-town Czech Republic when she stunned Maria Sharapova in 2011, while she produced one of the most dominant final performances in Wimbledon history three years later, thumping Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-0. 'I wasn't really planning anything when I came back,' said Kvitova of her decision. 'I was just thinking I go how it goes. I do this year, maybe maximum next year. That's when I knew that I will not carry on for a long time because I was already tired before and tennis is a very difficult sport, and of course with a baby it's not that easy, and I'm not that young any more as well. 'My body, it's struggling a little bit, it's just too much probably. I had the time when I said, 'OK, I'm done, I don't want to put myself in this situation'. 'I wanted to enjoy Wimbledon. I wanted to know, even for myself, that it will be my last Wimby because it's so many great memories I have – even the bad ones. I'm not sure how I'm going to feel but every time stepping here in Wimbledon it's very, very special. 'Most important are the two great ones. It's always been my special tournament and that's why I wanted to say it out loud before it starts.' Asked for her favourite All England Club memory, the 35-year-old cites the moments before she clinched the trophy for the first time. 'I think it was the first one, when I had 5-4 and I was going to serve for the match,' she said. 'I do remember I was sitting on the bench and I was telling myself it's maybe just one chance in my life so I should try to do it. 'Those wins were the most I could wish for and it was very special to win it for a second time as well. Since then I always wanted to have the feeling again. Probably that's why I was sometimes struggling as well in the first rounds. I put too much pressure on me. Sometimes it was very sad.' Kvitova said she will not miss the travel or the pre-match nerves – 'sometimes I was white as a wall' – but she has never grown tired of tennis. 'I will miss tennis itself,' she said ahead of a first-round match against 10th seed Emma Navarro on Tuesday. 'It's a beautiful sport, it's something which you need everything – hands, legs, mind – to be really ready and you are alone on the court. 'I'm not sure how I'm going to feel but every time stepping here in Wimbledon it's very, very special. This time will be a different special for sure but definitely I will enjoy it.'
Glasgow Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova prepares for her last dance in SW19
The two-time women's singles champion only returned to the sport in February following the birth of son Petr a year ago but announced last week that she plans to call it a day after the US Open later this summer. Kvitova is a former world number two and winner of 31 titles but her name will always be associated most with Wimbledon. She was a shy 21-year-old from small-town Czech Republic when she stunned Maria Sharapova in 2011, while she produced one of the most dominant final performances in Wimbledon history three years later, thumping Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-0. 'I wasn't really planning anything when I came back,' said Kvitova of her decision. 'I was just thinking I go how it goes. I do this year, maybe maximum next year. That's when I knew that I will not carry on for a long time because I was already tired before and tennis is a very difficult sport, and of course with a baby it's not that easy, and I'm not that young any more as well. 'My body, it's struggling a little bit, it's just too much probably. I had the time when I said, 'OK, I'm done, I don't want to put myself in this situation'. 'I wanted to enjoy Wimbledon. I wanted to know, even for myself, that it will be my last Wimby because it's so many great memories I have – even the bad ones. 'Most important are the two great ones. It's always been my special tournament and that's why I wanted to say it out loud before it starts.' Asked for her favourite All England Club memory, the 35-year-old cites the moments before she clinched the trophy for the first time. 'I think it was the first one, when I had 5-4 and I was going to serve for the match,' she said. 'I do remember I was sitting on the bench and I was telling myself it's maybe just one chance in my life so I should try to do it. 'Those wins were the most I could wish for and it was very special to win it for a second time as well. Since then I always wanted to have the feeling again. Probably that's why I was sometimes struggling as well in the first rounds. I put too much pressure on me. Sometimes it was very sad.' Kvitova said she will not miss the travel or the pre-match nerves – 'sometimes I was white as a wall' – but she has never grown tired of tennis. 'I will miss tennis itself,' she said ahead of a first-round match against 10th seed Emma Navarro on Tuesday. 'It's a beautiful sport, it's something which you need everything – hands, legs, mind – to be really ready and you are alone on the court. 'I'm not sure how I'm going to feel but every time stepping here in Wimbledon it's very, very special. This time will be a different special for sure but definitely I will enjoy it.'
South Wales Guardian
29-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova prepares for her last dance in SW19
The two-time women's singles champion only returned to the sport in February following the birth of son Petr a year ago but announced last week that she plans to call it a day after the US Open later this summer. Kvitova is a former world number two and winner of 31 titles but her name will always be associated most with Wimbledon. A post shared by Wimbledon (@wimbledon) She was a shy 21-year-old from small-town Czech Republic when she stunned Maria Sharapova in 2011, while she produced one of the most dominant final performances in Wimbledon history three years later, thumping Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-0. 'I wasn't really planning anything when I came back,' said Kvitova of her decision. 'I was just thinking I go how it goes. I do this year, maybe maximum next year. That's when I knew that I will not carry on for a long time because I was already tired before and tennis is a very difficult sport, and of course with a baby it's not that easy, and I'm not that young any more as well. 'My body, it's struggling a little bit, it's just too much probably. I had the time when I said, 'OK, I'm done, I don't want to put myself in this situation'. 'I wanted to enjoy Wimbledon. I wanted to know, even for myself, that it will be my last Wimby because it's so many great memories I have – even the bad ones. 'Most important are the two great ones. It's always been my special tournament and that's why I wanted to say it out loud before it starts.' Asked for her favourite All England Club memory, the 35-year-old cites the moments before she clinched the trophy for the first time. 'I think it was the first one, when I had 5-4 and I was going to serve for the match,' she said. 'I do remember I was sitting on the bench and I was telling myself it's maybe just one chance in my life so I should try to do it. 'Those wins were the most I could wish for and it was very special to win it for a second time as well. Since then I always wanted to have the feeling again. Probably that's why I was sometimes struggling as well in the first rounds. I put too much pressure on me. Sometimes it was very sad.' A post shared by Petra Kvitova (@ Kvitova said she will not miss the travel or the pre-match nerves – 'sometimes I was white as a wall' – but she has never grown tired of tennis. 'I will miss tennis itself,' she said ahead of a first-round match against 10th seed Emma Navarro on Tuesday. 'It's a beautiful sport, it's something which you need everything – hands, legs, mind – to be really ready and you are alone on the court. 'I'm not sure how I'm going to feel but every time stepping here in Wimbledon it's very, very special. This time will be a different special for sure but definitely I will enjoy it.'
Leader Live
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova prepares for her last dance in SW19
The two-time women's singles champion only returned to the sport in February following the birth of son Petr a year ago but announced last week that she plans to call it a day after the US Open later this summer. Kvitova is a former world number two and winner of 31 titles but her name will always be associated most with Wimbledon. A post shared by Wimbledon (@wimbledon) She was a shy 21-year-old from small-town Czech Republic when she stunned Maria Sharapova in 2011, while she produced one of the most dominant final performances in Wimbledon history three years later, thumping Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-0. 'I wasn't really planning anything when I came back,' said Kvitova of her decision. 'I was just thinking I go how it goes. I do this year, maybe maximum next year. That's when I knew that I will not carry on for a long time because I was already tired before and tennis is a very difficult sport, and of course with a baby it's not that easy, and I'm not that young any more as well. 'My body, it's struggling a little bit, it's just too much probably. I had the time when I said, 'OK, I'm done, I don't want to put myself in this situation'. 'I wanted to enjoy Wimbledon. I wanted to know, even for myself, that it will be my last Wimby because it's so many great memories I have – even the bad ones. 'Most important are the two great ones. It's always been my special tournament and that's why I wanted to say it out loud before it starts.' Asked for her favourite All England Club memory, the 35-year-old cites the moments before she clinched the trophy for the first time. 'I think it was the first one, when I had 5-4 and I was going to serve for the match,' she said. 'I do remember I was sitting on the bench and I was telling myself it's maybe just one chance in my life so I should try to do it. 'Those wins were the most I could wish for and it was very special to win it for a second time as well. Since then I always wanted to have the feeling again. Probably that's why I was sometimes struggling as well in the first rounds. I put too much pressure on me. Sometimes it was very sad.' A post shared by Petra Kvitova (@ Kvitova said she will not miss the travel or the pre-match nerves – 'sometimes I was white as a wall' – but she has never grown tired of tennis. 'I will miss tennis itself,' she said ahead of a first-round match against 10th seed Emma Navarro on Tuesday. 'It's a beautiful sport, it's something which you need everything – hands, legs, mind – to be really ready and you are alone on the court. 'I'm not sure how I'm going to feel but every time stepping here in Wimbledon it's very, very special. This time will be a different special for sure but definitely I will enjoy it.'
