Petra Kvitova retires after US Open first-round defeat to Diane Parry, 'nervous' two-time Wimbledon champion 'felt it would not be good'

Petra Kvitova was beaten 6-1 6-0 by France's Diane Parry in the last match of her professional career at the US Open. The 35-year-old, Wimbledon champion in 2011 and 2014, is bowing out after two decades playing at the highest level. She said she was glad to have her "last dance" at Flushing Meadows in New York, at the final Grand Slam of the year.

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Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has retired from tennis after being knocked out of the US Open.

The 35-year-old was beaten 6-1 6-0 by France's Diane Parry in their first-round meeting in New York on Monday.

Kvitova was tearful as she hugged her husband and coach, Jiri Vanek, after the match.

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"I hoped I would put on a better show today," Kvitova said in an on-court interview. "But it was tough to know it could be my last match, and emotionally it was very tough as well.

"Thank you, New York, for this amazing Grand Slam. I'm very happy to be here for my last dance."

She added in her press conference: "Since I wake up this morning, I felt it. I felt it would be not good. I couldn't eat. I was really nervous. But in different way, I would say.

"Yeah, I couldn't move, I couldn't swing, I couldn't do anything (smiling). It was really difficult.

"I never, you know, have a thing that I will be knowing I'm playing my last match, most probably, which in the end it was very clear. But, yeah, it was really difficult to even, like, imagine.

"It was something new, and it was for the last time as well, so I will now take the experience from it. Yeah, I'm glad I did it. I think it's just ending everything."

Kvitova's two-decade career had many memorable highlights, but her two victories at Wimbledon will always be the pinnacle.

In the 2011 tournament, she beat Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-4 in the final to seal her first Grand Slam success.

And she was celebrating on Centre Court again in 2014 as she claimed her second title in south west London.

It was more comfortable for Kvitova on that occasion, as she beat Eugenie Bouchard 6–3 6–0 in the final.

In all, she won 31 career singles titles, and claimed a bronze medal for Czech Republic at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Her career suffered an enormous setback when she was stabbed at her home by a knife-wielding intruder at Christmas in 2016.

Kvitova needed hours of surgery to repair nerves and tendons in her left hand. But she returned to action at the 2017 French Open.

Speaking before the tournament, Kvitova insisted she had no regrets about her career.

Petra Kvitova celebrates with the trophy after her Wimbledon triumph in 2014

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"It’s my personality, probably, that I didn’t win more," Kvitova said, per The Guardian.

"I think I had a talent. Maybe I could work a little bit more, but then, on the other hand, I think maybe it will kill my talent or my mentality.

"I think I could [have won more]. But what can I do? I played in the final of the Australian Open, I lost to Naomi Osaka when she played incredibly in the third set.

"There are always a few question marks in the number of Grand Slams. Being world No. 1, that’s what I’m missing. Probably, that’s the thing I would love to have. But if it’s not happened, it’s not happened. It would not give me a better life or make me happier."

Reflecting on the attack she suffered in 2016, Kvitova added: "I knew I was a big fighter on the court but at that time I realised how I am an even bigger fighter in a totally different version of myself.

"That was great, even though it was very tough to play tennis. I cried on the court, I had really bad flashbacks, I was having nightmares. So it really wasn’t easy. It took a while, but it’s all good now.

"There was a big question mark, can I play tennis or not? And I could. It was my second career. It was amazing."

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