Relive Petra Kvitova's top five career moments as two-time Wimbledon champion announces decision to retire
By Leon Imber
Published 19/06/2025 at 20:03 GMT+1
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Former world No. 2 Petra Kvitova will retire after this year's final Grand Slam, the US Open. A two-time Wimbledon champion and Australian Open finalist, Kvitova enjoyed a trophy-laden career with 31 singles titles, and represented her nation - the Czech Republic - with immense success, bringing home the Billie Jean King Cup on six occasions. Kvitova received a wild card for this year's Wimbledon.
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Petra Kvitova's wild-card appearance at Wimbledon this summer will be her last, as she brings down the curtain on a career which yielded two titles at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Kvitova, 35, announced on Thursday she will retire from tennis following this year's US Open.
It will mark the end of a hugely successful career, both in individual and team capacities. The Czech star accumulated 31 singles titles over 19 years on the court, while also helping her nation to six Billie Jean King Cup trophies - five in seven years - propelling them to the second most successful country in the history of the competition.
"I never imagined becoming a professional tennis player, being able to travel the world, and playing in the most beautiful stadiums around the world. And sure enough…somehow all of that became a reality, and so much more," Kvitova said in a statement posted on X.
"I've been privileged to reach incredible heights over the past 19 years since becoming a professional tennis player.
"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 will 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.
for me has come now. I therefore wanted to share with you that 2025 is my last season on tour as a professional.
"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 the court throughout my whole career."
TNT Sports takes a look back at five defining moments in Kvitova's career.
A HUGE win at 17-years-old
Kvitova made her WTA debut in the qualifying stages of the 2007 Prague Open and main draw debut in Stockholm the same year.
And by February 2008, the 17-year-old had already claimed her first top-10 scalp.
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Venus Williams, the No. 1 seed in Memphis, USA, looked to be heading to a fairly routine victory as she took the opening set 6-2. However, a dogged fightback from the Czech teenager landed Williams a difficult afternoon in front of her home crowd.
The tricky left-hander magnificently came back to level the tie and then seal just her second WTA tour victory with two breaks in the decisive set. Then ranked world No. 143, Kvitova announced her name to the world - and continued that fine trajectory.
Maiden Grand Slam success
Kvitova was just 21-years-old heading into her first-ever Grand Slam final appearance, at Wimbledon, against a three-time major winner in Maria Sharapova.
And the No. 8 seed delivered a stunning showcase of grass-court expertise to outwit her vastly more experienced counterpart - dispatching Sharapova 6-4 6-3.
Kvitova seemed to come to life under the intense pressure of Wimbledon's Centre Court. Her swinging serve caused notable issues, while an ability to play her groundstrokes with the utmost commitment showcased real maturity despite minimal acquantaince with such a stage.
From that day onwards, Kvitova seemed destined to yield yet more success on grass. It did not take long for her to achieve just that.
A second Wimbledon masterclass
Again, Kvitova absolutely revelled in the occasion of a Wimbledon final, and swiftly put Canada's Eugenie Bouchard to the sword to win the Slam for the second time in 2014.
In one of the most dominant Wimbledon finals in recent history, Kvitova sent the buoyant crowd home early - romping to 6-3 6-0 victory in just 55 minutes.
It was a triumph which propelled the 24-year-old to fourth in the world rankings and marked her name as one of the most feared in the women's draw.
While that was where her Grand Slam title success concluded, there was still plenty more silverware being added to her trophy cabinet in the months and years that followed.
An Olympic medal
Kvitova's great success while representing the Czech Republic was not just limited to the Billie Jean King Cup; she also scooped an Olympic bronze medal at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Her excellent run in Brazil saw her dispatch Elina Svitolina - who had earlier ousted Serena Williams - in the quarter-final, before a semi-final defeat to the unseeded Monica Puig, who went on to seal the gold medal.
Kvitova, though, ensured she still added to her nation's medal tally, notching a 7-5 2-6 6-2 victory over Madison Keys in the bronze medal match.
Later that year, Kvitova underwent an emergency, near-four hour operation on her left wrist after being attacked by an individual with a knife in her apartment. She remarkably recovered to appear in time for the French Open the following year, and continued to contest at the very top of the women's game.
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Gold medallist Puerto Rico's Monica Puig (C), silver medallist Germany's Angelique Kerber (L) and bronze medallist Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova
Image credit: Getty Images
Remarkable comeback in Australian Open near-miss
Kvitova marked her inspirational comeback with great success, and more trophies. In 2018, she won the joint-most number of singles titles in the season (5), and the first player to win silverware on all three surfaces since Serena Williams in 2015 - per WTA.
Her excellent run culminated with a stunning Australian Open campaign, batting away the likes of Belinda Bencic and Ash Barty in straight sets to reach the final - against Naomi Osaka.
It was a fierce battle over two and a half hours which swayed to and fro. The Czech remarkably saved three championship points during the clash, but eventually fell to defeat.
Her excellent form meant she reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 following her run in Melbourne - victory over Osaka would have lifted her to top spot.
Kvitova won her 30th and 31st titles in 2023, and then gave birth to her son, before returning to action in February this year.
This summer, she will say goodbye to the grass courts of Wimbledon which she truly made her own throughout her career. From there, she confessed, she does not quite know what her hard-court swing will look like, but hopes to complete her career with a farewell at Flushing Meadows.
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