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Petra Kvitová
Petra Kvitová Maud Watson trophy 2018.jpg
Kvitová with the winner's trophy after defending her title at the 2018 Birmingham Classic
Country (sports)  Czech Republic
Residence Monte Carlo, Monaco
Born (1990-03-08) 8 March 1990 (age 35)
Bílovec, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro 2006
Plays Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach David Kotyza (2008–2016)
František Čermák (2016)
Jiří Vaněk (2016–present)
Prize money US$ 37,454,150
  • 6th in all-time rankings
Official website petrakvitova.net
Singles
Career record 634–294 (68.32%)
Career titles 31
Highest ranking No. 2 (31 October 2011)
Current ranking No. 572 (16 June 2025)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open F (2019)
French Open SF (2012, 2020)
Wimbledon W (2011, 2014)
US Open QF (2015, 2017)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals W (2011)
Olympic Games Bronze (2016)
Doubles
Career record 13–35 (27.08%)
Career titles 0
Highest ranking No. 196 (28 February 2011)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open 2R (2011)
French Open 2R (2010)
Wimbledon 1R (2008, 2010, 2011)
US Open 1R (2008, 2009, 2010)
Team competitions
Fed Cup
  • W (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018)
  • Record 30–11
Hopman Cup W (2012)
Medal record
Women's tennis
Representing  Czech Republic
Olympic Games
Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Singles

Petra Kvitová (born March 8, 1990) is a professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. She is famous for her strong left-handed shots and winning many matches. Kvitová has won 31 big singles titles in her career.

Her biggest wins include two major titles at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014. She also won the WTA Championships in 2011. Kvitová earned a bronze medal for the Czech Republic in singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her highest ranking was world No. 2, which she reached on October 31, 2011. Kvitová retired from tennis in 2025.

Early Life and Tennis Start

Petra Kvitová was born in Bílovec, which was then part of Czechoslovakia and is now the Czech Republic. Her father, Jiří Kvita, who was a mayor and teacher, first taught her how to play tennis.

As a child, Petra looked up to the famous Czech American tennis player Martina Navratilova. She trained in her hometown of Fulnek until she was 16. An instructor then encouraged her to become a professional tennis player.

Career Highlights

Early Career and First Big Wins

Petra Kvitová started her professional career in 2006. She first got noticed in 2009 when she beat the world No. 1 player, Dinara Safina, at the US Open. In 2010, she reached her first major semifinal at Wimbledon.

Petra Kvitová at the 2010 US Open 01 (cropped-2)
Kvitová at the 2010 US Open

Breakthrough Season: 2011

The year 2011 was a huge year for Kvitová. She won her first major title at Wimbledon, beating Maria Sharapova in the final. This made her the first tennis player born in the 1990s to win a major title.

Petra Kvitova Rosewater dish
Kvitová holds the Venus Rosewater Dish, her first major crown, after winning the 2011 Wimbledon Championships

At the end of 2011, she won the WTA Championships in her first appearance. She also helped the Czech Republic win the Fed Cup for the first time as an independent country. Because of her amazing year, she was named the WTA Player of the Year.

Continued Success and Second Wimbledon Title

In 2012, Kvitová reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and French Open. She also won the Hopman Cup with Tomáš Berdych.

In 2014, she won her second major title at Wimbledon, defeating Eugenie Bouchard in the final. By 2015, Kvitová had reached at least the quarterfinals of all four major tournaments.

Injury and Comeback

In December 2016, Petra Kvitová was attacked at her home. She suffered serious injuries to her left hand, which is her playing hand. Doctors thought she might be out of tennis for six months.

Despite the serious injury, Kvitová made an amazing comeback. She returned to play at the French Open in May 2017, earlier than expected. She won her first tournament back, the Birmingham Classic, showing incredible strength and determination.

Petra Kvitová Birmingham 2018
Kvitová at the 2018 Birmingham Classic

Later Career and Retirement

In 2019, Kvitová reached her first major final in almost five years at the Australian Open, where she finished as the runner-up. She continued to play well, reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2020.

Kvitová took a break from tennis in 2024 because she was pregnant. She gave birth to her son, Petr, in July 2024. She returned to competition in February 2025. After playing a few tournaments, Petra Kvitová announced her retirement from professional tennis in June 2025, after the US Open.

Playing Style

Petra Kvitová is known for her powerful and accurate serves. As a left-handed player, she often serves wide to her opponent's backhand, making it hard for them to return. She hits the ball early, which helps her hit winners down the line.

Sydney International Tennis WTA Premier (46000969645)
Kvitová hitting a forehand

Kvitová's game is very aggressive. She hits powerful shots from both her forehand and backhand. She also has good variety in her game, including volleys and slices. Her style of play works best on fast courts, and she has said that grass is her favorite surface.

2018 Birmingham - Tuesday Petra Kvitova (42397788734)
Kvitová hitting a backhand

Sometimes, because her game is so aggressive, she can make more mistakes. She has also improved her movement on the court over the years.

Personal Life

Petra Kvitová has been in relationships with other Czech tennis players in the past. In 2014, she started dating Czech hockey player Radek Meidl, and they were engaged in 2015, but they later separated in 2016.

In August 2021, it was reported that Kvitová was dating her coach, Jiří Vaněk. They got engaged in July 2022 and were married in July 2023. On January 1, 2024, Kvitová announced she was expecting a baby. Their son, Petr, was born on July 7, 2024.

Home Incident

On December 20, 2016, Petra Kvitová was involved in an incident at her home in Prostějov, Czech Republic. She was injured on her left hand while trying to protect herself. She had surgery to fix the damage to her hand.

Kvitová worked hard to recover and regained full use of her hand. In May 2018, a person was taken into custody in connection with the incident. This person was later charged and sentenced to jail.

Sponsors and Awards

Kvitová has many sponsors, including Nike for her clothes and shoes, and Wilson for her tennis racquets. She has also worked with UniCredit Bank and Česká pošta, a Czech postal service.

She became a Global Athlete Ambassador for Right To Play, an organization that uses sports to help children. She also had deals with watchmaker Ritmo Mundo and jewelry maker ALO Diamonds. In 2018, she became an ambassador for TAG Heuer watches and L'Occitane en Provence skincare.

Petra Kvitová has won many awards throughout her career, including:

  • WTA Newcomer of the Year (2010)
  • WTA Player of the Year (2011)
  • ITF World Champion (2011)
  • Czech Athlete of the Year (2011, 2014)
  • Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award multiple times (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

See also

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