Top
Petra Kvitova - Miami Open 2023
Tennis News, WTA Tennis Players

Petra Kvitova claims Russian players ‘shouldn’t be allowed’ at Wimbledon


Petra Kvitova has voiced her opinion on Wimbledon’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players this year, after the Czech won the biggest title of her career since 2018.

Kvitova ended current Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina’s, 11-match winning streak and prevented her from becoming the fifth woman to complete the sunshine double to win the Miami Open final, 7-6(14) 6-2.

Rybakina had not lost a tie-break so far this season, and Kvitova had to do it the hard way by saving five set points in a 23-minute tie-break.

“Before our final, I read that Elena didn’t lose a tie-break yet this season,” said Kvitova. “So, you know, I had a break up—I was like, ‘Okay, good, I’m going to serve it out.’ And boom, it was a tie-break. I was like, ‘Oh, very nice. What are you going to do now?’”

The 33-year-old continued, “But I was telling myself that she has to lose at some point one tie-break this season. So I was going to try. “It was really the hardest tie-break I’ve played, probably.”

This latest triumph provides Kvitova with the 30th WTA title of her established career, with two of her trophies coming from Wimbledon.

Therefore, the two-time champion at SW19 was asked about what she thought about Wimbledon’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players at The Championships this year.

“First of all, for sure I’m always staying against the war. For sure, I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players,” said the former No.2.

“I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year not giving the points (after) the Russian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed actually. In my opinion, either to the Olympics. So I’m just a little bit on the Ukrainian side of this.”

It has been reported that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and Kvitova also voiced her opinions on this.

“Not in the Olympics for sure, because I feel the Olympic Games are because we don’t want war in the world,” said the 2016 bronze medalist.

With the Miami Open win, Kvitova returns to the WTA top 10 for the first time since 2021 and has spoken of her plans for the rest of the season.

“I have no idea what this (win) will do for my season. I’m just happy that I won it from nothing,” said Kvitova. “I think I’m playing pretty good tennis starting the year but I didn’t go really deep in a tournament. Finally, I have.”

She added, “I think I just take it very positive that I can still compete with the best. The clay is waiting and then it’s grass. The tennis world is very fast and I can’t really stand there and be watching this trophy all the time. I have to move forward, of course, as everybody would. It means a lot to me that even at my age I can still win a big tournament. That’s the biggest thing.”

 Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB

 Social >> Facebook, Twitter & YouTube

 Read >> World’s best tennis magazine

 Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner 


By
0

Matthew Johns, Tennishead Writer, is a professional tennis journalist with a specialist degree in Sports Journalism. He's a keen tennis player having represented his local club and University plus he's also a qualified tennis coach. Matthew has a deep knowledge of tennis especially the ATP Tour and thrives on breaking big tennis news stories for Tennishead.