Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic waves to the crowd after her first round women's single match against Emma Navarro of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic waves to the crowd after her first round women's single match against Emma Navarro of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns the ball to Emma Navarro of the U.S. during their first round women's single match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Emma Navarro of the U.S. left and Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic shake hands after their first round women's single match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic waves to the crowd after her first round women's single match against Emma Navarro of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Kirsty Wigglesworth - AP
Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic waves to the crowd after her first round women's single match against Emma Navarro of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Kirsty Wigglesworth - AP
Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns the ball to Emma Navarro of the U.S. during their first round women's single match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Kirsty Wigglesworth - AP
Emma Navarro of the U.S. left and Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic shake hands after their first round women's single match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
LONDON (AP) — Two-time Wimbledon champion waved goodbye to her favorite Grand Slam tournament Tuesday.
The 35-year-old Czech player, who won at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014, after the U.S. Open, which ends in September.
Her farewell was a 6-3, 6-1 loss to 10th-seeded Emma Navarro of the United States on No. 1 Court.
“This place holds the best memories I could wish for,†an emotional Kvitova said in an on-court interview that is usually granted to the match winner. "I never dreamed of winning a Wimbledon and I won it twice. This is something very special.
“I will miss Wimbledon for sure,†she continued. “I will miss tennis, I will miss you fans. But I’m ready for the next chapter in life as well, and I can’t wait to be back as a member.â€
Kvitova, who accepted a wild-card invitation, missed last year's tournament while on maternity leave.
The 24-year-old Navarro said Kvitova has been “an incredible player and obviously won this tournament twice, and then had a kid and came back, which is definitely an inspiring story from her end.â€
In 2011, in the final. Three years later, Kvitova earned her second trophy, in the title match.
“I think itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ the best tournament in the world," she said.
The U.S. Open, she assures, will be her last one.
“I am sure,†Kvitova said, noting it's not just the toll on her body. "The motivation, itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ different than it was before."
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