A career that spanned nearly two decades ended emotionally on the Grandstand court at the US Open. Petra Kvitova, the former World No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon champion, played her final professional match on Monday, falling 6-1, 6-0 to France’s Diane Parry in a defeat that left both players and spectators in tears.
For Kvitova, this wasn’t just another first-round loss – it was the closing chapter of one of tennis’s most compelling stories.
How Did COVID-19 Impact Petra Kvitova’s Final Match?
The emotional scenes that unfolded after Kvitova’s defeat told only part of the story. The 35-year-old Czech revealed she had been battling the lingering effects of COVID-19, which she contracted three weeks before the tournament.
“Yeah, my physicality wasn’t great. My lungs are not really working yet, but I hope it will be okay when I’m not practicing now,” Kvitova explained to reporters. “I wanted to be playing here, to finish the season, like, with a Grand Slam and not because Covid caught me.”
Despite her compromised physical condition, Kvitova was determined to end her career at a Grand Slam rather than walk away due to illness. The virus had clearly taken its toll, limiting her ability to compete at the level that made her one of the most feared players on tour for nearly 20 years.
Following her defeat, a teary-eyed Kvitova embraced her husband and coach Jiří Vaněk, as he sat in her player’s box.
Emotions flow as a wonderful journey comes to an end ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ikdxy3kQOA
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2025
The US Open organized a retirement ceremony for Kvitova on the same court where her career ended, a fitting tribute to a player who has given so much to the sport.
What Did Diane Parry Say About Facing Kvitova in Her Final Match?
For 22-year-old Parry, the victory came with mixed emotions. While advancing to the second round represents career progress, she understood the weight of the moment she was part of.
“It’s never easy to play this kind of match, especially when you know it can be her last match,” Parry said. “It was an honour to play against her at least once in my career. I have so much respect for her and the amazing career she had. I just wish her all the best for the future.”
The young Frenchwoman’s gracious words reflected the respect Kvitova commands throughout tennis. Players across generations recognize her contributions to the sport and the barriers she broke during her time on tour.
Why Did Petra Kvitova Choose to Retire Now?
Kvitova’s decision to step away wasn’t made lightly. Speaking to the press ahead of her final tournament, she was candid about reaching her limit with professional tennis.
“I am clear that the time has come to say goodbye. There has been enough tennis in my life, but I will miss it a lot,” she told the accredited media. “This sport has given me everything; I feel very fortunate to have experienced things that most people in the world cannot imagine. Being in the spotlight in a full stadium, battling the ups and downs that occur in a match, challenging myself… These have been incredible years.”
However, one aspect of professional tennis had worn particularly thin for Kvitova: the constant travel. After years of crisscrossing the globe, the physical and mental toll became too much to bear.
“If I could change just one thing about tennis, it would be to not travel as much,” Kvitova explained. “You cannot imagine how difficult it is to string together trips throughout the year, waking up in hotels sometimes not remembering where you are, and spending so much time in airports. It’s very challenging, and I believe the show would improve if we didn’t travel as much.”
While Kvitova plans to remain connected to tennis, she has made it clear that coaching isn’t in her future. Instead, she hopes to find other ways to contribute to the sport without the demanding schedule that defined her professional career.
The timing of her retirement also reflects her new priorities. Kvitova became a mother in July 2024 when her son, Petr, was born. Due to her pregnancy, she skipped the entire 2024 season before returning earlier this year.
Kvitova’s legacy extends far beyond her 31 WTA titles and two Wimbledon championships. Since making her main draw debut at the 2007 Nordic Light Open, she became known as one of her generation’s most powerful and consistent players. Her run to the 2019 Australian Open final, where she fell to Naomi Osaka, showed her ability to compete at the highest level well into her thirties.
In June, she announced that she would be retiring at the end of the 2025 season. Her final WTA Tour title came in 2023 on the grass courts of Berlin.
As Kvitova walked off the Grandstand court for the final time as a professional player, she left behind a career filled with triumph, adversity, and ultimately, fulfillment. The tears she shed weren’t just for the match she lost, but for the journey that was finally complete.
