Latest news with #Kvitova
Leader Live
11 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.
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to retire after US Open
Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova celebrates with the trophy after winning the Wimbledon final in 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to retire after US Open PARIS – Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced on June 19 that she will be retiring from the professional tennis circuit after this year's US Open. The 35-year-old Czech, who is currently ranked down at 572nd in the world, reached a career-high ranking of 2 in 2011 when she won the first of her two Wimbledon titles. She triumphed again in 2014 and went on to reach the final of the Australian Open in 2019. This week she was handed a wildcard entry for one last outing on the grass courts of south-west London. 'There comes a day that it is time for a new chapter and that time for me has come now,' the left-handed Kvitova wrote on social media. '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. '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.' Kvitova won Olympic bronze in 2016 but just before Christmas she was attacked in her home by a knife-wielding robber, suffering cuts to the nerves and tendons in her left-hand. She was a member of six Czech teams to have won the Fed Cup and won the most recent of her 31 tour titles on the grass in Berlin in 2023. Kvitova missed the 2024 season in order to give birth to her first child. Since returning, she is 1-6, with her lone win coming in the first round of Rome. 'I could not have asked or wished for anything more,' Kvitova added. 'Tennis has given me everything I have today, and I will continue to be forever grateful to this beautiful sport that I love.' Meanwhile in tennis action on June 19, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin 12 days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open. Recipient of a first-round bye, the American lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu. Gauff, a winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals in 2024, has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. In men's tennis, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner's bid to win back-to-back Halle Open titles ended following a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Alexander Bublik in the last 16, the top seed's first loss to a player outside the Top 20 since 2023. AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Czech champion Kvitova calls time on tennis career
TWO-TIME Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced Thursday that she will be retiring from the professional tennis circuit after this year's US Open. The 35-year-old Czech, who is currently ranked down at 572 in the world, reached a career-high ranking of 2 in 2011 when she won the first of her two Wimbledon titles. She triumphed again in 2014 and went on to reach the final of the Australian Open in 2019. This week she was handed a wildcard entry for one last outing on the grass courts of south-west London. 'There comes a day that it is time for a new chapter and that time for me has come now,' the left-handed Kvitova wrote on social media. '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. '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.' Kvitova won Olympic bronze in 2016 but just before Christmas she was attacked in her home by a knife-wielding robber, suffering cuts to the nerves and tendons in her left-hand. She was a member of six Czech teams to have won the Fed Cup and won the most recent of her 31 tour titles on the grass in Berlin in 2023. Kvitova missed the 2024 season in order to give birth to her first child. Since returning, Kvitova is 1-6, with her lone win coming in the first round of Rome. 'I could not have asked or wished for anything more,' Kvitova posted. 'Tennis has given me everything I have today, and I will continue to be forever grateful to this beautiful sport that I love.'
The Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Petra Kvitova to Retire After 2025 US Open Tour Finale
TWO-TIME Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced Thursday that she will be retiring from the professional tennis circuit after this year's US Open. The 35-year-old Czech, who is currently ranked down at 572 in the world, reached a career-high ranking of 2 in 2011 when she won the first of her two Wimbledon titles. She triumphed again in 2014 and went on to reach the final of the Australian Open in 2019. This week she was handed a wildcard entry for one last outing on the grass courts of south-west London. 'There comes a day that it is time for a new chapter and that time for me has come now,' the left-handed Kvitova wrote on social media. '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. '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.' Kvitova won Olympic bronze in 2016 but just before Christmas she was attacked in her home by a knife-wielding robber, suffering cuts to the nerves and tendons in her left-hand. She was a member of six Czech teams to have won the Fed Cup and won the most recent of her 31 tour titles on the grass in Berlin in 2023. Kvitova missed the 2024 season in order to give birth to her first child. Since returning, Kvitova is 1-6, with her lone win coming in the first round of Rome. 'I could not have asked or wished for anything more,' Kvitova posted. 'Tennis has given me everything I have today, and I will continue to be forever grateful to this beautiful sport that I love.'
The 42
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Two-time Wimbledon champion calls time on career
TWO-TIME Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced Thursday that she will be retiring from the professional tennis circuit after this year's US Open. The 35-year-old Czech, who is currently ranked down at 572 in the world, reached a career-high ranking of 2 in 2011 when she won the first of her two Wimbledon titles. She triumphed again in 2014 and went on to reach the final of the Australian Open in 2019. This week, she was handed a wildcard entry for one last outing on the grass courts of south-west London. Advertisement 'There comes a day that it is time for a new chapter, and that time for me has come now,' the left-handed Kvitova wrote on social media. '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. '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.' Kvitova won Olympic bronze in 2016, but just before Christmas, she was attacked in her home by a knife-wielding robber, suffering cuts to the nerves and tendons in her left hand. She was a member of six Czech teams to have won the Fed Cup and won the most recent of her 31 tour titles on the grass in Berlin in 2023. Kvitova missed the 2024 season in order to give birth to her first child. Since returning, Kvitova is 1–6, with her lone win coming in the first round of Rome. 'I could not have asked or wished for anything more,' Kvitova posted. 'Tennis has given me everything I have today, and I will continue to be forever grateful to this beautiful sport that I love.' – © AFP 2025
