LONDON: Petra Kvitova’s Wimbledon farewell ended in an emotional defeat as the two-time champion was beaten 6-3, 6-1 by Emma Navarro in the first round on Tuesday.
Kvitova returned from maternity leave in February following the birth of her son Petr in 2024, but found it difficult to handle the demands of being a mother on the gruelling tennis circuit.
The 35-year-old Czech announced last week that she will bring the curtain down on her career after the US Open in August.
Kvitova’s decision gave the former world number two, who has won 31 titles in her career, one last opportunity to return to the scene of her Wimbledon triumphs.
But American 10th seed Navarro ruined her hopes of a long Wimbledon goodbye with a clinical 60-minute victory on Court One.
Kvitova could not hold back the tears when she was given a standing ovation by the crowd, responding with a wave before drying her eyes.
“It’s very special to play on this beautiful court one more time. I wish I could play a little bit longer but it’s OK, whatever” she said as more tears flowed.
“This place holds the best memories I could wish for. I never dreamt of winning Wimbledon.
“I will miss Wimbledon for sure, I will miss tennis but I’m ready for the next chapter as well.
“I can’t wait to be back here as a member. Thank you very much Wimbledon.”
A raw 21-year-old when she stunned Maria Sharapova to win the 2011 Wimbledon final, three years later Kvitova returned to the All England Club title match to rout Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0.
Now ranked 572, Kvitova has lost eight of her nine matches since becoming a parent.
But she says Wimbledon means “everything to me,” an emotional connection forged not just in her tennis triumphs but also because her engagement to her coach Jiri Vanek took place on Center Court in 2022.
She rolled back the years at the start of the first set, racing into a 3-1 lead with a series of blistering winners.
But the left-hander is no longer the force of old and she lost five games in a row with a host of unforced errors as Navarro took the set.
By the time Kvitova lost the first two games of the second set, her fate was almost sealed.
She managed one last echo of yesteryear, holding serve in the third game and celebrating with a clenched fist.
That show of defiance was Kvitova’s final fling as a double-fault finished her All England Club career.
She bowed out with a kiss to her family in the players’ box before leaving the Wimbledon stage for the last time.
