- Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has announced she is expecting her first child
- Meanwhile, new mother Naomi Osaka returned to tennis with victory at the Brisbane International
Two-time Grand Slam champion and one of the top players on the WTA Tour Petra Kvitova has announced she is expecting her first child. Kvitova, who is ranked world number 17, is set to miss this year’s Australian Open despite being named on the entry list of the tournament earlier on.
“On the first day of 2024 I wanted to wish you a happy new year and share the exciting news that Jiri and I will be welcoming a baby into our family this summer.” Kvitova wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with a picture of the couple holding a sonogram and a onesie.
Petra Kvitova has announced that she is expecting a baby in the summer and will miss this year’s Australian Open. Photo/ Khaleej Times.
She then added on Instagram that she will be missing this year’s Australian Open: “I’m looking forward to spending some time at home preparing for this exciting new chapter in our lives”
Earlier in 2023, Petra Kvitova revealed that she got married to Jiri Vanek after a year-long engagement. The couple, who began working together during the off-season in 2016, tied the knot in a private ceremony held at a luxurious resort located just outside Prague. Vanek proposed to Kvitova in August 2022 at Wimbledon.
Petra Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, finished as runner-up at the 2019 Australian Open after losing to Naomi Osaka. The Czech player, who last competed at the China Open in October, is not playing in the ongoing tune-up tournaments in Australia.
Despite winning a couple of titles in 2023, Kvitova’s performance at Grand Slam tournaments was average. The former world number two began the season by reaching the quarter-final of the Adelaide International 2 where she lost to Daria Kasatkina.
At the Australian Open, which is usually the first Grand Slam, she was eliminated in the second round by Anhelina Kalinina after defeating Alison Van Uytvanck in the first. Kvitova did well at the Sunshine Double, reaching the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and then winning the title at Miami Open after defeating Elena Rybakina in the final.
At the Berlin Open, Petra Kvitova defeated Donna Vekic to win her second title of the season and 31st career title.
Naomi Osaka Returns With Victory At Brisbane International
New mother Naomi Osaka returned to tennis with victory at the Brisbane International by beating Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets. This was the former world number one’s first match in 15 months and she defeated her German opponent 6-3 7-6 (11-9).
Osaka, who is a four-time grand slam champion, briefly acknowledged the crowd at Pat Rafter Arena before facing Korpatsch. The Japanese player, who is currently unranked, made the perfect start, breaking Korpatsch with crisp ball striking and a couple of powerful winners.
Korpatsch, who is unseeded, offered some resistance afterwards but the set was eventually claimed by Osaka after 39 minutes of play. Osaka looked set for a routine victory when she broke for a 5-3 lead in the second set, but the world number 84 fought back to take it into a tiebreak.
Naomi Osaka beat Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets. Photo/ NBC Sports.
Osaka won 11-9 on her third match point and eventually put the game to rest by claiming the set. The former US Open and Australian Open champion will meet three-time champion in Brisbane Karolina Pliskova in the second round.
“The last couple of years that I played before I had my daughter, I didn’t return as much love as I was given I feel like that’s what I want to do in this chapter. I just really appreciate people coming out and knowing me and cheering for me because I feel like there was a time I was just a little kid trying to watch my role models play.” Naomi Osaka said on court after the match, as per Sky Sports.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login