Latest news with #BillieJeanKingCup
Independent Singapore
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
'I have accomplished more than I could have ever imagined' — Petra Kvitova announces retirement from professional tennis
Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion and former World No. 2 in rankings, recently announced her retirement this season, specifically after the US Open. This will end her remarkable career spanning for over a decade. On social media, the athlete expressed: 'I've been privileged to reach incredible heights over the past 19 years since becoming a professional tennis player. From winning my two Wimbledon Championships, bringing home six Billie Jean King Cup trophies for the Czech Republic, reaching the world #2 ranking and so much more. I have accomplished more than I could have ever imagined and I am so grateful to everything that tennis has given me all these years.' She added: 'While no such decision is ever easy to make, for me this is a happy moment! I will leave the sport with the biggest smile on my face – the same smile you've seen from me on and off court throughout my whole career.' Netizens expressed their support by commenting on the post. One netizen admitted: 'Gonna miss you Petra. I hope you enjoy your next chapter as much as we've enjoyed being part of these recent chapter in your life. You've been an incredible champion and a true inspiration to so many. Thank you'. Another netizen declared: ' Congratulations on a wonderful career. It has been a pleasure to watch. May you succeed in everything you go onto in the next phase of your life.' More netizens stated: 'We will miss you Petra! Time to enjoy that family. You'll shine in anything you do!', 'God bless your future Petra. It's been a joy watching you', and 'Inspiring! Fearless fighter, the best attitude in every match, brilliant player. You will be missed' Kvitova's impressive tennis career At the age of 21, Petra Kvitova won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon by beating Maria Sharapova with a final scoreline of 6–3, 6–4. She became the first player born in the 1990s to win a major. That same year, Kvitova dominated the WTA Finals in her debut. She won all five matches and defeated Victoria Azarenka in the final. In 2014, Kvitova returned to Wimbledon's final and defeated Eugenie Bouchard with a final scoreline of 6–3, 6–0. Between 2011 and 2018, Kvitova was a key player for the Czech Republic's Fed Cup team, helping the squad win six titles with a record of 30 wins and 10 losses. The athlete also made a name on the clay court in Madrid, winning the tournament three times (2011, 2015, 2018). This record was later matched by Aryna Sabalenka. In her sporting career, she won nine WTA 1000 titles. Kvitova then won her 30th title at the Miami Open later in her career by winning against Elena Rybakina. She added a 31st title in Berlin that same summer, defeating Donna Vekic on grass court.
Leader Live
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Petra Kvitova to retire after US Open
The 35-year-old returned to the tour in February following the birth of son Petr last summer and will play at Wimbledon for a final time after being given a wild card. Kvitova was a surprise winner of a maiden grand slam title at the All England Club in 2011, defeating Maria Sharapova in the final. — Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) June 19, 2025 The powerful left-hander's game proved perfect for grass courts and she added a second Wimbledon crown in 2014, while she also made the Australian Open final in 2019 and reached a career high of second in the rankings. She achieved both those things despite a shocking stabbing by an intruder at her home in late 2016 in which she suffered damage to tendons and nerves in her left hand, threatening her career. Writing on social media, Kvitova said: 'Growing up in my hometown of Fulnek and hitting the first tennis balls with my father on the local courts, I never imagined becoming a professional tennis player, being able to travel the world, and playing in the most beautiful stadiums around the world. 'I've been privileged to reach incredible heights over the past 19 years since becoming a professional tennis player. From winning my two Wimbledon Championships, bringing home six Billie Jean King Cup trophies for the Czech Republic, reaching the world #2 ranking and so much more. 'I have accomplished more than I could have ever imagined and I am so grateful to everything that tennis has given me all these years. It has taught me countless lessons, not only on the court or in the gym, but also in life. 'I would never be whom I am today without this beautiful sport, and everything it has given me both on and off the court. 'As with all phases in life, there comes a day that it is time for a new chapter, and that time for me has come now. I therefore wanted to share with you that 2025 is my last season on tour as a professional. 'I am excited and very much looking forward to soak in the beauty of playing The Championships, Wimbledon one more time, a place that holds the most cherished memories in my career for me. 'And while I am not entirely sure yet what my hardcourt swing in the US will look like, I am intending to finish my active playing career at the US Open in New York later this summer. A post shared by Petra Kvitova (@ 'While no such decision is ever easy to make, for me this is a happy moment! I will leave the sport with the biggest smile on my face – the same smile you've seen from me on and off court throughout my whole career.' Kvitova has found wins very hard to come by since returning to the match court in Texas following more than a year away. It took her five tournaments to register her first victory, which came against Irina-Camelia Begu on clay in Rome, but that so far remains her only win.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Billie Jean King Cup playoffs to be played in Bengaluru
Bengaluru will host the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs for the first time ever on Indian soil, from Nov 14-16, 2025. (All India Tennis Association (AITA) Bengaluru: The Garden City will host the first-ever Billie Jean King Cup playoffs to be staged in the country. The three-day, three-team event will be played from Nov 14. India, logged in Group G, pooled alongside seventh seeds Netherlands and Slovenia in the draw that was done in the ITF offices on Thursday. India had rallied in April to make the playoffs, where 21 countries were placed in seven groups. The other host nations are Mexico (Monterrey), Poland (Gorzow Wielkopolski), Argentina (Cordoba), Croatia (Varazdin), Austraia (Hobart), and Germany (Ismaning). Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Indian team – Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, ranked 322, Sahaja Yamalapalli, 342, Ankita Raina, 347, Vaidehi Chaudhari 368, and Prarthana Thombre (145 doubles), led by non-playing captain Vishal Uppal, impressed in the Zonals in April, finishing behind New Zealand in the Asia-Oceania Pool. 15:33 WV Raman backs Shubman Gill to fire in England: 'He needs the right support' In Nov, the hosts will be tested by Dutch No.1 Suzan Lamens ranked No. 70 and No 2 Arantxa Rus, 91. The Slovenia No. 1 is Veronica Erjavec ranked 172. This is only the second time that India has made the playoffs in tournament history, and the first since 2021, when India lost 1-3 to Jelena Ostapenko's Latvia. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? The seven group winners progress to the 2026 qualifiers, while the remaining 14 will compete in Group I next year. The renamed Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association's facility – the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium – at Cubbon Park will be the venue. Sunil Yajaman, joint-secretary of the Association, said the Laykold courts — also the surface of the US Open — will be resurfaced for the playoffs. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
SAI asks tennis players to prioritise national duty
India's tennis players who receive financial assistance through various support schemes should prioritise national duty and refusal to play for India without 'valid justification' will result in recovery of funds from them, according to a Sports Authority of India (SAI) order. Making players accountable for funds received, the SAI, in its order, has asked the players, selected for support under the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), to provide a written undertaking where they acknowledge that receiving financial assistance carries the responsibility of contributing to the nation's sports excellence. The matter came up for discussion when athletes' names were discussed for inclusion in TAGG, according to a source. In its order, SAI asked players receiving support under TOPS, NSF and TAGG schemes to confirm their availability and willingness to represent India in 'esteemed international events such as the Billie Jean King Cup, Davis Cup, Asian Games, Olympics.' 'The above tennis competitions hold significant national pride. Therefore, it is important that all players benefiting from the support, provided under these schemes prioritize representing India if selected by the All India Tennis Association (AITA). 'We would also like to inform you that, in the event of selection by the NSF, should you decide not to participate without valid justification, the financial assistance provided to date will be subject to recovery in accordance with the applicable guidelines,' the SAI order read. Modelled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), TAGG was launched in April this year with an aim to boost India's medal tally at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. There have been several instances in the past when players have refused to play the Davis Cup.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Katie Boulter triumphs in sweltering three-set Battle of the Brits against Sonay Kartal - as British No2 eyes Nottingham Open three-peat on the court she calls her 'house'
Katie Boulter calls the Centre Court here in Nottingham her 'house' and showed on Thursday she will not be handing the keys over without a fight. The 28-year-old, who grew up in nearby Leicester and trained at this tennis centre as a child, has won the Nottingham Open in each of the past two years. And she kept her bid for a record-breaking third successive title on course by beating Sonay Kartal in a 2hr 26min Battle of Britain. Boulter appeared to be wilting in the 28°C heat against her Billie Jean King Cup team-mate, requiring painkillers after being blown away in the second set, then going a break down in the third. 'I am definitely proper British because I can't handle the heat,' the eighth seed joked afterwards. 'It was killing me.' But Boulter came back from the dead to break back for 4-4 in the deciding set, then went on to seal a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 win and set up a quarter-final today against American McCartney Kessler. 'This is as close as home can ever feel like for me,' said the world No 39, who confirmed she has entered the US Open mixed doubles with her fiance Alex de Minaur. 'I literally feel like I step into my house when I come on to this court. 'At the very end, I just wanted to grit my teeth as hard as I could and get over the line.' Boulter will reclaim the British No 1 spot if she reaches another final in Nottingham, having been displaced by Emma Raducanu last week. However, she expects Kartal to soon surpass her in the rankings. Kartal was ranked as low as 271st at the start of last year's grass-court season. But the 23-year-old has enjoyed an astonishing rise in the past 12 months to soar into the world top 50 for the first time. 'I am going into Wimbledon feeling super confident,' said Kartal. 'My goal was to end the year top 50, so I am proud to have done it halfway through. 'To have three Brits close together in the rankings, the No 1 spot is in the back of our minds. It is really good to have that rivalry.' British 17-year-old Mimi Xu lost 7-5, 6-1 to Polish sixth seed Magda Linette in her debut WTA tournament. Defeat came a day after she sat a biology A-level exam - and was handed a wildcard for Wimbledon. 'After my match on Tuesday, I was just in revision mode and I didn't think about tennis until after the exam,' said Xu. 'To get the news about the wildcard was amazing. I was so happy.'
