Petra Kvitova Returns to Victory After Maternity Leave
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has made a remarkable comeback to professional tennis after a 15-month hiatus following the birth of her son, Petr. The 35-year-old Czech star claimed her first victory since returning, defeating Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1, at the Italian Open on Tuesday.
“It’s kind of weird that my first win came here,” Kvitova shared with the Women’s Tennis Association. “I’ve never played my best tennis in Rome, but it feels much better than losing—that’s for sure.”
Before this victory, Kvitova had faced four consecutive defeats since her comeback in February. She opened up about her doubts during her time away from the sport. “I was 95% sure I wouldn’t come back,” she revealed. “I felt like I’d had enough of tennis—I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ So, we decided to try for a baby.”
Her decision to return wasn’t easy, but stepping back onto the court reignited her passion. “After pregnancy, when I finally got back on court, it felt amazing. I was laughing, hitting smooth shots, and thinking, ‘Wow—it’s still there!'”
Kvitova, who won Wimbledon titles in 2011 and 2014 and was once ranked world No. 2, is taking a relaxed approach to her comeback, focusing on enjoying the game she loves. She is set to face Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the next round.
In other matches, China’s Wang Xiyu was defeated by the Netherlands’ Arantxa Rus, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of qualifying, missing out on the main draw. The 24-year-old Wang had taken nearly a three-month break due to injuries after her early exit at the Singapore Tennis Open in February. Her recent challenges have seen her world ranking drop to 135th.
