Kvitova Says Goodbye to Wimbledon with Grace, Gratitude, and Emotion

Posted : 02 July 2025

Petra Kvitova’s final appearance at Wimbledon was always destined to be emotional, and the moment did not disappoint. The two-time champion bid farewell to the All England Club, a place that has marked some of the most meaningful milestones of her life—both professionally and personally. From lifting two Grand Slam titles to getting engaged on Centre Court, and even welcoming her son during last year’s tournament fortnight, Wimbledon has long been her "special place."

In what turned out to be her last match at the Championships, Kvitova faced a tough opponent in American 10th seed Emma Navarro and was defeated 6-3, 6-1. Despite the loss, the moment was about far more than the scoreline. As the crowd on Court One rose to their feet in tribute, Kvitova—fighting back tears—was granted the rare honour of addressing the spectators after a first-round loss.

“I will miss Wimbledon, I will miss tennis, I will miss you fans—but I am ready for the next chapter of life as well,” the 35-year-old Czech said, her voice wavering as she spoke. She went on to thank her coaches—beginning with her father and ending with her husband—and her family, who were present in the stands to witness the moment. Her message in Czech to them was especially heartfelt.

Navarro, after the match, expressed her admiration for Kvitova’s legacy. “It was surreal looking across the net and seeing her serve bombs at me. It was intimidating at times,” she said. “Petra’s had an amazing career. It was a pleasure to play against her today.”

Raised in a quiet Moravian town and trained initially on clay courts, Kvitova was not a natural grass-court player. Yet, between 2010 and 2015, she reached at least the quarterfinals at Wimbledon every year, capturing the title in 2011 and 2014. Her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes proved ideally suited to the surface.

Kvitova’s journey wasn’t without adversity. In 2016, she suffered a life-threatening knife attack in her home that resulted in severe injuries to her racquet hand. Doctors gave her a slim chance of returning, but she defied expectations, returning to professional tennis just five months later.

Since then, she has not advanced past the fourth round at Wimbledon, but her love for the tournament never waned. Missing last year's edition due to maternity leave, she returned this season after giving birth and announced her intention to retire after the US Open. Despite winning only one of her nine matches since returning to the tour, she accepted a wildcard to compete one last time at the All England Club.

“This place holds the best memories I could wish for,” Kvitova said. “I never dreamed of winning Wimbledon, and I did it twice. So this is something very special.”

As she walked off the court, taking in every final moment, Petra Kvitova left not only as a champion of the game but as a beloved figure whose resilience, humility, and grace have inspired fans across the world.

Kvitova Says Goodbye to Wimbledon with Grace, Gratitude, and Emotion

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