Czech · Bílovec, Czech Republic · Born 8 March 1990Czech left-hander who won two Wimbledon titles and returned to top form after surviving a knife attack at her home in 2016.
Petra Kvitová was born on 8 March 1990 in Bílovec, in what was then Czechoslovakia, to Jiří Kvita, a mayor and former schoolteacher, and Pavla Kvitová, and has two older brothers. She turned professional in 2006 and developed into one of the most powerful left-handed players in the women's game, renowned for flat, aggressive groundstrokes and a game built for grass and hard courts. Kvitová won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2011, defeating Maria Sharapova in the final, and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 that October. She won a second Wimbledon crown in 2014, and helped the Czech Republic win the Fed Cup title a remarkable six times between 2011 and 2018. On 20 December 2016, Kvitová survived a knife attack at her apartment in Prostějov, Czech Republic, sustaining serious lacerations to the tendons and nerves in her playing hand that required surgery; she made a determined recovery, regaining full use of her hand by March 2017 and returning to professional competition. Her attacker was later sentenced to eight years in prison. Kvitová reached a further Grand Slam final at the 2019 Australian Open, and won an Olympic bronze medal in singles at the Rio 2016 Games. She retired from professional tennis in August 2025 with 31 career singles titles, having married her longtime coach, Jiří Vaněk, in 2023.
Powerful lefty, two-time Wimbledon champion, stabbing survivor
She was attacked at home by a knife-wielding intruder in 2016 who cut her playing left hand — yet returned to professional tennis within five months.
Did You Know?How They Played
Kvitová is known for her powerful left-handed groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play. Her forehand is particularly devastating, capable of generating extreme pace and sharp angles that can dictate rallies. She excels on grass courts, where her flat, penetrating shots and ability to finish points quickly at the net complement the surface perfectly.
Lasting Impact
Kvitová's two Wimbledon titles established her as one of the premier grass-court players of her generation and a key figure in Czech tennis success.
Career Honours
- 2 Grand Slam singles titles (2011, 2014 Wimbledon)
- Fed Cup champion multiple times with Czech Republic
Czech Athletes