Challenges in the Life of Petra Kvitová in a Detailed Timeline
Life is full of challenges, and Petra Kvitová faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.
Petra Kvitová is a Czech professional tennis player celebrated for her powerful left-handed groundstrokes and versatile playing style. She has amassed 31 career singles titles, with two major victories at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014. Representing the Czech Republic, she secured a bronze medal in singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Kvitová reached her highest career ranking of world No. 2 on October 31, 2011, solidifying her status as one of the top players in women's tennis.
2009: First Wimbledon Opening Round Defeat Since 2009
In 2018, Kvitová bowed out in the first round of Wimbledon. It was her first defeat in the opening round of the tournament since 2009, and 2018 also marks the first season since 2009 where she suffered multiple opening-round exits at the Grand Slam tournaments.
2009: No quarterfinal
In 2022, for the first time since 2009, Kvitová did not reach a quarterfinal at the Grand Slams in two consecutive years.
2009: First Season Without a Grand Slam Quarterfinal Since 2009
The 2016 US Open loss meant Kvitová failed to make a Grand Slam quarterfinal in a season for the first time since 2009.
2010: First Time Since 2010 Without a Premier Title
In 2017, Kvitová's loss at the China Open meant that for the first time since 2010, she did not win a Premier Mandatory or Premier 5 title during a season.
2010: First Season Without a Title
In 2020, Kvitová did not win a title, which was the first time since 2010 that she did not win a title during the season.
2010: Earliest defeat
In 2022, Kvitová had her earliest defeat since 2010, in the Canadian Open.
2010: Winning Rate Below 60%
In 2022, Petra Kvitová's season winning rate dropped below 60% for the first time since 2010.
2010: First Loss in Paris Since 2010
In 2023, Kvitová's loss at the French Open was her first loss in the first hurdle in Paris since 2010 when she lost to Sophie Ferguson.
2010: Outside Top 10 Since 2010
Kvitová finished 2023 ranked world No. 14 – making it her third top-20 finish in succession as well as the first time since 2010 where she concluded more than two seasons in a row ranked outside the top 10.
2010: Unseeded at a Premier Event for the First Time Since 2010 Kremlin Cup
Kvitová started 2018 in Sydney, unseeded at a Premier event for the first time since the 2010 Kremlin Cup, after withdrawing from Brisbane due to a viral illness.
January 2011: Fell Out of Top 20 Rankings For First Time Since January 2011
Due to not qualifying for the WTA Elite Trophy where she was the defending champion, Kvitová fell out of the top 20 rankings for the first time since January 2011.
January 2011: Ranking Low
In 2022, Kvitová's ranking fell to a 12-year low of world No. 34 after Madrid, which is also her equal-lowest ranking since January 2011.
May 2011: Lowest Ranking Since May 2011
Entering the clay court swing in 2016, Kvitová dropped to world No. 12, her lowest ranking since May 2011.
May 2011: Ranking Drop Outside Top 10
In May 2011, Kvitová dropped out of the top 10 rankings for the first time since May 2011 after losing in the third round of the US Open to Alison Riske.
2011: Hopes of Qualifying for WTA Finals Ended in 2011
After the loss to Keys at the 2016 China Open, Kvitová's hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals ended, having recorded five straight appearances at the event dating back to 2011.
2011: Kvitová Not a Top 10 Seed Since 2011
At the 2016 US Open, Kvitová was not a top 10 seed for the first time since the 2011 Australian Open.
2011: First Round Exit at the US Open in 2011
In 2014, during the Australian Open, Kvitová exited a Grand Slam tournament in the opening round for the first time since the 2011 US Open.
May 2012: First Loss to a Czech Player Since May 2012
In 2018, Kvitová lost her opener in Charleston to Kristýna Plíšková, marking her first loss to a Czech player since May 2012, ending a run of 24 consecutive wins against her compatriots.
September 2013: Drops Out of Top 10 in September 2013
Entering the clay court swing in 2016, Kvitová dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since September 2013, landing at world No. 12.
2014: Kvitová's 2014 Season Start
In 2014, Kvitová started the year at the Hopman Cup with Radek Štěpánek. She reached the semifinals in Sydney but lost to Tsvetana Pironkova. She exited the Australian Open in the first round, her first opening round Grand Slam exit since the 2011 US Open.
2015: Kvitová's 2015 Season Start
In 2015, Kvitová started the season in Shenzhen, losing in the semifinals. She won the title in Sydney, defeating Karolína Plíšková. She was upset by Madison Keys in the third round of the Australian Open.
2015: Losing Streak Extends at WTA Finals
In 2015, Kvitová's losing streak at the WTA Finals extended to seven matches, dating back to her loss in the 2015 final to Agnieszka Radwańska.
December 2016: Attack on Kvitová
On December 20, 2016, Petra Kvitová was attacked in her apartment in Prostějov.
2016: Middle East Performance in 2016
In February of 2023, Petra Kvitová had consecutive last-16 exits in Doha and Dubai, marking the first time since 2016 she failed to reach a quarterfinal in the Middle East.
2016: Attack and Injury in 2016
In late 2016, Kvitová was attacked during a break-in at her home, suffering cuts to her left hand, resulting in injuries to the tendons and nerves.
2016: Kvitová's 2016 Season Struggles
Kvitová had a slow start to 2016 due to illness and split with coach David Kotyza. She lost both singles matches in the Fed Cup opening round tie against Romania but the Czech team moved on to the semi-finals. She reached a quarterfinal at Indian Wells but suffered an early loss in Miami.
February 2018: Dropped out of Top 10
In February 2018, Kvitová dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since February 2018 after failing to defend her runner-up result.
2018: Title Defence and Opening Round Loss at Wimbledon in 2018
In 2018, Kvitová won her 25th career title at the Birmingham Classic, also the second successful title defence of her career. She then bowed out in the first round of Wimbledon, and 2018 also marks the first season since 2009 where she suffered multiple opening-round exits at the Grand Slam tournaments.
2018: Grand Slam Appearances
In 2021, Kvitová's loss at the US Open marked the second time in her career she did not reach a second week at the Grand Slams, after 2018.
2018: Losing Streak on Clay
In 2022, Kvitová had her first losing streak on clay at the tour level since 2018.
2019: Wins Stuttgart Title and Forced to Withdraw from French Open in 2019
In 2019, Kvitová became the first player to win two titles by winning in Stuttgart. She then pulled out of the French Open with an arm injury. Making multiple second week appearances at the Grand Slams for the first time since 2015.
2019: Four losing streak
In 2022, Kvitová had her first four losing streak since end of 2019.
2020: Doha Final Appearance
In 2020, Kvitová reached the final in Doha, but lost to Aryna Sabalenka, marking her tenth runner-up finish and consecutive finals lost at the Premier Mandatory/5 level.
2020: Season Without a Title
In 2020, Kvitová shut down her season after the French Open, marking the first time since 2010 that she did not win a title during the season.
2020: 10th Defeat Since 2020
In 2023, Kvitová lost to sixth seed Ons Jabeur in the last 16 at Wimbledon – making it her 10th overall defeat, both in this stage at the Grand Slams, and at all Grand Slams since the 2020 season.
2020: Failed to Reach Quarterfinals Since 2020
In 2023, at the US Open, Kvitová failed to reach a single quarterfinal at the Grand Slams for the third season in a row, with her last such result being 2020 French Open where she was a semifinalist.
2021: Failed to reach a Quarterfinal Since 2021
In 2023, Petra Kvitová failed to reach a single quarterfinal in her last 10 appearances at the Grand Slams, dating back to the 2021 Australian Open.
2022: Early Loss at Australian Open
In 2022, Kvitová took another early loss to Sorana Cîrstea at the Australian Open for the second year running, this time in the first round.
2022: 2022 Season Review
In 2022, Petra Kvitová amassed 27 wins out of 46 matches, marking the first time since 2010 that her season winning rate was less than 60%.
2023: Lost in WTA 1000
In her last tournament of 2023, at the China Open, the loss made 2023 the third season in a row where Kvitová's last tournament of the season saw her lost in the last 32 of a WTA 1000 event.
2023: Winless Clay Season in 2023
In the 2023 clay season, Petra Kvitová failed to record a single win on the surface, exiting from the French Open without a victory.
