Yes, it actually happened! Petra Kvitova returned to tennis at the WTA250 in Austin, Texas on Tuesday 25th February, 17 months after her last match – a defeat to Liudmila Samsonova at the China Open in 2023. The birth of her baby boy, Petr, in July 2024 which included a C section meant many of us thought the now 34-year-old Kvitova would bow out quietly. None of that! In a delightful surprise to the tennis world Petra announced her return to the tour for Austin, Indian Well and Miami.
Her opponent in the first round of Austin was Britain’s Jodie Burrage, someone who has had more than her fair share of injuries lately. Burrage had been a top 100 player but so often when she starts playing well, she gets hurt. She has had serious wrist and ankle injuries and is keen to get back to the top 100. However, as a first match back for Petra, it seemed like a decent match up. For us Petra fans, we had no idea what to expect. Petra has never been a huge fan of training and so what sort of form would she be in?
Well I am delighted to report – she looked great! But unfortunately… she lost!
Yes, that good old Petra Kvitova roller coaster was back. A great start, leaping to 4-0, then 5-1 before closing the first set 6-3. When she won the first set, it was quite the moment for us fans who thought we would not get to enjoy watching Petra again. Burrage was having a lot of serving issues – and to be honest at around midday, the position of the courts and the sun in Austin means you can hardly see the ball!
Burrage picked up her serve big time in sets 2 and 3 and ended the match with 14 aces. This was definitely evident in the key game with Burrage serving at 3-4 in the final set. Kvitova had several break points for a 5-3 lead and a chance to serve for the match. Burrage served well break point down, but Kvitova was a bit impatient on a few too. However, once Burrage got it back to 4-4, it did seem like she had all the momentum, and so it proved. Successive double faults from Petra certainly didn’t help. Burrag broke Petra then held for the win.
Quite honestly, Petra played a lot better than I had expected. She can still hit the ball hard and her determination and fight are still there – I almost shed a tear at the first ‘POJD!’ – she clearly enjoys the competition but was maybe a bit too eager to win on a few of those break points. She looks a little heavier than 17 months ago – unsurprisingly! She only gave birth 7 months ago, and still has a bit to work on with her movement. There were also a few too many double faults – twelve is too many points to hand over for free. However, the big shots are 100% still there and she didn’t look too tired, even at the end of a 2-and-a-half-hour match.
Petra said she wanted to come back because she loves tennis and missed it. She would have enjoyed the win more though I think! Still, for a first match back, an encouraging performance. Next stop Indian Wells and Miami.
Which is more than can be said for poor Barbora Krejcikova, who is struglging big time with a back injury. Barbora hasn’t played since the WTA finals in Riyadh. Who would have thought Petra would have played a match in 2025 before Krejcikova… *sob*
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