Petra Kvitova has announced she will retire after the US Open, nine years on from her horror knife attack that changed her life.
The 35-year-old won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, just a few years before the knife attack that would change her career.
In December 2016, the Czech player was shockingly attacked in her own home, where she suffered a severe injury in her left hand that needed urgent surgery to save her career. She went on to win 12 titles after her injury.
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Reflecting on her career, she revealed: "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.
Petra Kvitova has announced her retirement from Tennis
"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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She also revealed why she thinks now is a good time to call it quits. She added: “I’m totally ready. I’m not regretting anything.
"I still love tennis but everything else, waiting for the practices, waiting for the car, waiting for a match, it’s just tiring.
She became a fan favourite over her time on the court
|PA
"And having a son, it’s a totally different life. I just want to spend more time with him as well."
After her injury, the 35-year-old had five months of intensive rehabilitation to try to get herself back on the court.
She began what she called her “second career” at the French Open in 2017.
The Czech star reached the Australian Open final in 2019, narrowly losing to Naomi Osaka in three sets, before advancing to the semi-finals at the 2020 French Open.
The Czech star will take ti the court for the last time at the US Open
|PA
In 2024, she took a break from the sport to have her first child, who was born in July last year.
She will take part in the US Open next week, hoping for a good run in her final major tournament.