Petra Kvitova made a heartbreaking exit from Wimbledon, bidding farewell to the grass-court major with a defeat to Emma Navarro of the United States. Last month, Kvitova – champion at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014 – had announced her decision to retire at the end of the US Open, making this her final appearance at the All England Club.
On Tuesday, Navarro advanced to the second round at SW19 with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory. Kvitova, a wildcard entrant, took a moment to reflect on her cherished memories at Wimbledon, where she twice lifted the trophy.
“To have another chance to play here one more time, it means a lot to me. This place holds the best memories I could wish for. I never dreamed of winning Wimbledon, and I won it twice, so this is something very, very special,” Kvitova said after the match.
“I will miss Wimbledon for sure. I will miss tennis, I will miss the fans, but I’m ready for the next chapter in life as well,” Kvitova added.
As Kvitova left the arena, the crowd rose to its feet, giving her a standing ovation. She acknowledged the gesture with a wave, thanking the fans for their unwavering support.
In February, Kvitova made her return to professional tennis at the WTA 250 ATX Open in Austin, Texas, following a 17-month maternity break after giving birth to her son, Petr, in July 2024. Notably, in 2019, Kvitova also reached the final of the Australian Open, where she was defeated by Naomi Osaka.
As for Navarro, she will next face Veronika Kudermetova, who cruised past China’s Zhu Lin with a 6-3, 6-2 win.
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