For much of the 2010s, Petra Kvitova and Alison Riske-Amritraj were formidable opponents at Wimbledon. Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in 2011 and 2014. Riske-Amritraj, known for her flat groundstrokes effective on grass, famously upset World No.1 Ashleigh Barty en route to the quarterfinals in 2019. Now, both players have added a new dimension to their Wimbledon memories with the births of their first children.
Alison Riske-Amritraj announced the arrival of her daughter, Calen Ann Amritraj, on July 5. Just two days later, Petra Kvitova welcomed her son, Petr, on July 7. Both players have been away from the Hologic WTA Tour since the second half of 2023, focusing on their pregnancies and preparing for motherhood. Riske-Amritraj last competed at Wimbledon a year ago, while Kvitova ended the previous season ranked No.14, having won two titles.
Riske-Amritraj’s announcement on Instagram revealed the touching inspiration behind her daughter’s unique name, Calen. The name is a combination of the names of her and her husband Stephen Amritraj’s mothers, Carol and Helen, both of whom share the middle name Ann. “May she be full of the same grace, love, grit, and strength, (amongst many other wonderful things), as her namesakes,” Riske-Amritraj expressed in her post.
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Kvitova shared the news of her pregnancy on New Year’s Day, while Riske-Amritraj revealed her pregnancy in March. Both players have expressed their joy and excitement about their new roles as mothers, marking a beautiful and significant new chapter in their lives.
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As these two former Wimbledon contenders celebrate their new additions, the tennis community also rejoices, welcoming the next generation. This special moment off the court adds a heartfelt dimension to their already illustrious careers, highlighting the personal milestones that transcend their professional achievements.
Petra Kvitova in 2024
Ranked no.125, Petra played her last match on the 2nd of October 2023 when she lost to world no.15 Ludmilla Samsonova 6-4 7-5 in the 2nd round in Beijing (draw).
Currently, during this year the Czech achieved a composed 30-13 match record.
Petra Kvitova will face the world no.3 Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday at 6:00 pm on CENTRE COURT. Their actual head to head record is 3-2 for Kvitova.
Petra won 31 titles in her career: 15 on hard courts, 5 on clay courts, 5 on indoor courts and 6 on grass courts. (See the list of her titles)
Petra Kvitova |
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