Two-time Wimbledon champion set to make her WTA comeback after 17 months away, reckons “it will be very tough”

Petra Kvitova is set to play against British star Jodie Burrage in the first round of the ATX Open after 17 months away from tennis.

Two-time Wimbledon champion set to make her WTA comeback after 17 months away, reckons “it will be very tough”

Petra Kvitova (via Tennis Gazette)

Last year, women’s tennis witnessed several comebacks from maternity leave such as Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic, who have already swiftly asserted themselves into the circuit. Two-time Wimbledon champion and former World No.2 Petra Kvitova is set to follow their footsteps at the ATX Open but believes it will be “very tough”.

Kvitova is widely known for her big left-handed serves and groundstrokes that make it difficult for her opponents. The Czech-Republic star has virtually won everything in tennis. She won the Wimbledon Championship in 2011 and 2014 and has lifted an additional 13 WTA singles titles which has seen her get more than $37 million in prize money.

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Earlier this year, she announced her comeback to tennis after 17 months away from the sport. The last time she played on the court was at the 2023 China Open in Beijing, where she exited in the second round after losing to Liudmila Samsonova. In July last year, she welcomed a son named Petr.

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Ahead of her comeback debut at the ATX Open on Tuesday (February 25), she revealed that it would be tough for her to be at her usual level considering what her body has gone through. She added that she doesn’t have any goal this season but to enjoy her time on the court.

I’m not putting any goals on myself, I will never play as good as I was playing when I was winning tournaments. Yeah, we will see. I want to enjoy myself playing tennis, and I think it will take time. I tried to explain to everybody that I came back because I loved it. I miss tennis; I have loved tennis since I was four. So I think the love for the sport took me back to tennis. I don’t know for how long, or how long I’m going to enjoy it, or how my body’s going to feel. I think it will be very tough in the beginning. But we will see how I manage everything. We’ll see how it goes.

Petra Kvitova said via WTA

Kvitova revealed that she was encouraged to return to tennis after Elina Svitolina, Osaka and Bencic came back and began to play well. Bencic has won 13 of her 17 matches this year, has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, and clinched the Abu Dhabi Open title.

Petra Kvitova says she felt “a little bit bored” while away from tennis

Petra Kvitova gave birth to Petr on July 7, 2024 via C-section, which meant that she didn’t play tennis for up to four months. However, the former World No.2 has gained confidence in practice and is looking to explore her chances on the court, even though those chances are small as she’s set to turn 35 in two weeks.

Petra Kvitova (via X)

She revealed during the aforementioned interview she revealed how she felt during her maternity leave.

When you are at the tournaments and you’re not playing tennis, you can be a little bit bored. Or thinking too much about the mental side of tennis, being sad you are away from home — this is different. You have a kid and a husband with you. I couldn’t leave him at home — I would miss him. It’s just more of a family life, I would say — not just tennis, tennis, tennis.

Petra Kvitova said

Kvitova will step on the court in Austin, Texas for the ATX Open against British youngster Jodie Burrage, who’s currently World No.189. If she does beat Burrage, she will face the winner between Ajla Tomljanovic and Katie Volynets.