NEW YORK — Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova bid an emotional farewell to tennis after a first-round US Open exit, reflecting with pride on her resilience and Grand Slam triumphs across a two-decade career. Sixth seed Madison Keys suffered a shock defeat, falling to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua.
The 35-year-old Czech returned to competition earlier this season following a 17-month maternity break and announced ahead of Wimbledon that she would call time on her career at the end of the year’s final major in New York.
Kvitova won 31 titles – including Wimbledon crowns in 2011 and 2014 – reaching a highest ranking of No 2 in the world but will also be remembered for her brave return to tennis after a serious hand injury sustained during a home robbery in 2016.
She was beaten 6-1 6-0 in her final match by Frenchwoman Diane Parry on Grandstand before shedding tears during an on-court ceremony to honour her.
“I think I would be proudest of many things, especially the mental side. All the seasons, pretty long seasons. I was okay to handle it even with some injuries and sickness,” Kvitova told reporters later.
“I’m very proud of how I handled the pressure, how many times I have been in the top 10. It was special. I was never world No 1 but those two Grand Slam wins are above the world No 1 ranking.
“That’s how I’m going to take it, especially the Wimbledon ones. I’m proud of many thingsm” she added according to Reuters.
Kvitova said she briefly contemplated skipping the US Open after being laid low by Covid three weeks ago but was determined to end her career on her own terms.
“I wanted to be playing here, to finish the season in a Grand Slam and not because the Covid caught me,” she added. “I’m very glad (I did).”
Reigning Australian Open champion Keys bowed out after an attritional battle with Zarazua, who prevailed 6-7 (10/12), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.
Zarazua, ranked 82 in the world, took advantage of Keys’ problems with her service game to claim an impressive win.
Keys gave up 14 double faults and was broken six times as Zarazua battled into a second-round meeting with France’s Diane Parry.
Keys’ defeat comes after a solid season in Grand Slams following her maiden victory at the Australian Open in January. She reached the quarterfinals at the French Open before progressing to the third round at Wimbledon.
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko was brought down to earth with a straight sets first round defeat to Barbora Krejcikova at the US Open.
Mboko, the 22nd seed who turned 19 on Tuesday, bowed out of the tournament after losing 6-3, 6-2.
The early exit comes just three weeks after Mboko celebrated her first WTA title with victory at the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Two-time Grand Slam singles champion Krejcikova will face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the second round.
An emotional Venus Williams was non-committal about her future after the 45-year-old battled bravely before suffering a first-round defeat at the US Open.
The American former world No 1 delighted a packed house on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court with a gutsy 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 defeat to Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
Williams only returned to competitive tennis in July following a 16-month absence from the sport and was granted a wild card into the main draw at Flushing Meadows, a decision that met with criticism in some quarters.
Yet she did enough against her 29-year-old opponent – who was not even born when Williams turned professional in 1994 – to more than justify the decision to give her a place in the main draw.
Williams said she does not expect to play again this year, citing a reluctance to travel, but was coy about whether she would consider seeking a place in the Australian Open next season.
“That’s kind of far too,” Williams, the US Open champion in 2000 and 2001, said when asked about the Australian Open.
