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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday May 6, 2025
When Petra Kvitova called temporary time on her career in the fall of 2023, here career – in her mind, at least – was all but over.
"I was 95 percent that I would never come back," she said today in Rome, according to the WTA. “I had had enough of tennis at that time. I was like, 'I can't do it any more,' so we decided to try for a baby. I didn't say anything because it wasn't 100 percent.” Today, after an impressive 7-5, 6-1 win over Irina-Camelia Begu, her first since returning to the tour from maternity leave, the 35-year-old two-time major champion laughs about her route back to tennis. After her son, Petr, was born in July last year, Kvitova wanted to pick up the racquet. And when she did, she felt the magic.
"When I could do something, finally after pregnancy, I played some tennis — and it felt so good," she said. "I was laughing. Every shot I hit smoothly, I was like, 'Wowwww — it's still there.'”
It was there today for the former World No.2, as she hit 21 winners against 11 unforced errors and got through the win in one hour and 37 minutes to set a second-round clash with Ons Jabeur in Rome.
Kvitova, ranked 830, had saved five of six break points and broke Begu’s serve five times to get her first win in five matches since her comeback started. The Czech started her comeback with a loss in Austin in February, and had lost successive matches at Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid.
Kvitova is now 9-8 lifetime at Rome, with a best performance quarterfinal in 2015.
"I was very close in my previous matches but I didn't make it. I need more matches… It feels like I won a title, so I'm going to celebrate it tonight."
When asked what the celebration would entail, Kvitova said maybe a gelato and some white wine.
"It's small steps," Kvitova added. "But I'm glad that I showed some good things today." In other action on Day 1 in the Italian capital, Lulu Sun defeated Giorgia Pedone 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, to set a second-round clash with sixth-seeded Jasmine Paolini.
Other winners include:
Rebecca Sramkova d. McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-3, will face Ostapenko next Lucia Bronzetti d. Anastasija Sevastova, 6-3, 6-4, will face Muchova next Jacqueline Cristian d. Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-2, will fae Putintseva next Suzn Lamenz d. Renata Zarazua next, will face Elise Mertens next Peyton Stearns d Nuria Brancaccion 6-3, 6-2, will face Kalinskaya next Jessica Bouzas Maneiro d. Ann Li 6-3 5-7 7-6(3), will face Svitolina next.