Petra Kvitová said goodbye to Wimbledon after a first-round loss to Emma Navarro, falling 6-3, 6-1 on Court 1. The two-time Wimbledon champion received a rare on-court farewell, sharing heartfelt words with fans before leaving the grass courts she called home for years.
The Czech star’s emotional exit marked the end of an era, as she prepares to retire after the upcoming U.S. Open. Her departure was felt not just by the crowd, but also by fellow tennis greats and commentators.
Navratilova’s Emotional Tribute
As Kvitová and Navarro met at the net, BBC commentator and fellow Czech Martina Navratilova was visibly moved. Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon singles champion, struggled to speak through tears as she described the moment.
BBC’s Martina Navratilova in tears live on air as Wimbledon break protocol https://t.co/t4eZyJbiz3
— WalesOnline 🏴 (@WalesOnline) July 1, 2025
“It’s hard for me to talk right now, she’s just such a nice person on and off the court, a role model everywhere,” Navratilova said, her voice breaking.
Kvitová announced she will retire after the U.S. Open later this summer. She started her match against Navarro with an early break but could not keep up the momentum, ultimately losing in straight sets.
After the match, Wimbledon made an exception by allowing Kvitová to address the crowd, a privilege usually reserved for winners. She thanked the fans for their support and congratulated Navarro, saying, “Hi everyone, thank you very much for the beautiful atmosphere you made today. It was very special to play on this beautiful court. Congrats Emma on the win, good luck. I wish we could play a little bit longer but okay, whatever!”
Reflecting on her two Wimbledon titles, Kvitová said, “To have another chance to play one more time here means a lot to me. This place holds the best memories I could wish for. I never dreamed of winning Wimbledon, and I won it twice, this is something very, very special.”
She spoke of her retirement with mixed emotions: “I will miss Wimbledon for sure, I will miss tennis, I will miss you fans, but I’m ready for the next chapter in my life as well. I can’t wait to be back as a member, to come back here and see all you guys again.”
“This place holds the best memories I could wish for.” ✨
Petra Kvitova says farewell to the #Wimbledon crowd pic.twitter.com/am0r3H16Iu
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
Before leaving, Kvitová thanked those who supported her throughout her career. “I didn’t have many tennis coaches through my career. My first one was my dad, who is here today. My last one is my husband. I wanna thank them. All the people in my box. My family as well.”
Petra Kvitova after playing her final match at Wimbledon
“I didn’t have many tennis coaches through my career. My first one was my dad, who is here today. My last one is my husband. 🥹 I wanna thank them. All the people in my box. My family as well.” ❤️ pic.twitter.com/rG13hKkzTZ
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 1, 2025
Kvitová’s legacy goes beyond her two Wimbledon titles. She won a bronze medal in singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing the Czech Republic. She was also the first player of either gender born in the 1990s to win a major. Her career-high ranking was world No. 2, achieved in 2011.
