Petra Kvitova stepped onto the court for her US Open first-round match knowing it might be the final chapter of her illustrious career. Managing emotions proved to be her toughest opponent, and the two-time Grand Slam champion fell in just 53 minutes to France’s Diane Parry.
Emotions flow as a wonderful journey comes to an end ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ikdxy3kQOA
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2025
Earlier this summer, Kvitova bid an early farewell to Wimbledon, the tournament closest to her heart, where she lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2014. But Monday in New York carried even heavier weight: she was acutely aware this could be her last professional match. Sadly, it was—and she managed to claim only one game against the world No. 107.
After the 6-1 6-0 defeat, the Czech star and winner of 31 career titles was overcome with tears as she embraced and kissed her husband, Jiri Vanek, courtside.
“I hoped I would put on a better show today,” the 35-year-old said in her on-court interview, which followed a touching video tribute to her career. “But it was tough to know it could be my last match, and emotionally it was very tough as well.”
Kvitova, who gave birth to her first child in July 2024, had returned to the tour in February 2025 at the ATX Open in Austin, Texas.
