Kvitova bids farewell to Wimbledon as Krejcikova and Swiatek move on

Day 2 of Wimbledon 2025 delivered emotional farewells and gritty triumphs. Two-time champion Petra Kvitova bid a heartfelt goodbye to her beloved tournament with her final match on the grass. Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova battled through a tough opener to stay on course, while Iga Swiatek eased into the next round, determined to make her deepest run yet on her most challenging surface.

A legend signs off!

Petra Kvitova walks off Court 1 after playing her last Wimbledon match.

She’s a two time champion, playing two very memorable finals. pic.twitter.com/bgbBGo2YSo

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 1, 2025

Petra Kvitova played her final match at the All England Club on Tuesday, falling 6-3 6-1 to tenth seed Emma Navarro. The 35-year-old Czech, set to retire after the US Open, briefly led in the first set but ultimately lost 11 of the last 12 games. Returning to the tour after giving birth in July 2024, Kvitova received a warm farewell in her 16th Wimbledon appearance, calling the atmosphere on No. 1 Court “beautiful.”

Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova overcame a slow start to defeat rising star Alexandra Eala 3-6 6-2 6-1 in the Wimbledon first round. Despite struggling with injuries and limited match play in 2025, Krejcikova used her experience and net skills to turn the match around after dropping the first set. Eala, who recently impressed with a strong run in Eastbourne and wins over top players in Miami, couldn’t maintain her early momentum. Krejcikova’s comeback marks her 14th Wimbledon match win — her most at any Grand Slam.

Eighth seed Iga Swiatek began her Wimbledon campaign with a 7-5 6-1 win over Polina Kudermetova, marking her 61st straight opening-match victory — the longest streak by any woman this century. Although grass is her least favored surface, the four-time French Open champion is coming off a finalist run in Bad Homburg and is aiming to surpass her best Wimbledon result, a quarterfinal appearance in 2022. She will face Caty McNally next.

Earlier on Tuesday, third seed Jessica Pegula suffered a surprising first-round exit at the hands of world No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Fifth seed Zheng Qinwen also bowed out early, losing a hard-fought battle to Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1.