Competing at the Internazionali BNL d`Italia in Rome, Petra Kvitova earned her first victory since returning to the tour. The win over Irina-Camelia Begu (7-5, 6-1) brought a sense of relief, coupled with a touch of bewilderment.
Kvitova noted her surprise that this milestone came in Rome, a venue where she feels she hasn`t historically played her best, adding that securing a win certainly felt better than continuing her recent losing streak. Her previous best run in Rome, reaching the quarterfinals, was a decade prior in 2015.
The former World No. 2 had faced a tough start to her comeback, losing her opening matches in four consecutive tournaments (Austin, Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid). These defeats were frustrating, but Kvitova`s return has been marked by an unexpected joy for the game itself.
She revealed that she had been “95% sure” she wouldn`t return to professional tennis after her last tournament in Beijing in 2023, feeling she had “had enough” and couldn`t continue. This led to the decision to start a family, a plan she kept private until confirmed.
However, after her son, Petr, was born in July of last year, her perspective began to shift. Frustrated by the physical limitations of pregnancy, Kvitova found herself eager to return to activity and eventually, the tennis court. She recounted the feeling of playing again after pregnancy, stating, “it felt so good.” She rediscovered the joy, laughing and being impressed by her ability to still hit shots “smoothly,” noting that while her fitness might not be peak, her touch and skill were still present.
Her performance against Begu demonstrated this returning skill. Kvitova lost her serve only once during the match, specifically when trying to close out the first set at 5-4. She quickly recovered, winning eight of the final nine games to secure the victory. Kvitova acknowledged that her fitness isn`t yet where she wants it to be but added that her game has been improving even in practice sessions.
While hitting the ball still brings her happiness, Kvitova was less enthusiastic about the other demands of being a professional athlete. She described the daily grind of training, competing, and traveling in a less positive light, admitting these aspects – including practice, gym work, and recovery – aren`t her “favorites,” sometimes feeling like a repetitive chore.
Traveling with her son, Petr, who is now crawling and sleeping less, also presents new challenges, making standard hotel rooms feel cramped. She and her husband-coach, Jiri Vanek, now opt for rented apartments when possible, seeking more space and a home-like environment for their child.
Despite the off-court demands, Kvitova says the enjoyment she finds on court currently outweighs the difficulties. She is approaching this phase of her career without specific goals or a set timeline, planning to play “however long I`m going to enjoy it.”
In the second round, Kvitova is set to play 27th seed Ons Jabeur. Kvitova holds a 4-2 lead in their head-to-head record overall, but this will be their first encounter on a clay court.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth