Being world number one is what I'm missing," says Kvitova before bidding farewell at the US Open

Petra Kvitova, 35, a two-time Wimbledon champion (2011 and 2014), will officially retire after the US Open.

The Czech player, who gave birth to her first child last year, chose to return to competition at the start of the season. However, with a record of just one win and eight losses in nine matches, Kvitova preferred not to linger on the tour.

So it is in New York, where she reached the quarterfinals twice (2015 and 2017), that she will end a 19-year career, crowned with 31 singles titles and a world number two ranking. Interviewed by The Guardian, Kvitova agreed to reflect on her career:

"I think my personality played a role in me not winning more. I think I had talent. I could have worked a little harder, but on the other hand, it would have broken me mentally or tennis-wise. I think I could have won more. But what can I do?

I played in the final of the 2019 Australian Open. I lost to Naomi Osaka when she played an incredible third set. There are always question marks about the number of Grand Slams.

Being world number one is what I'm missing. It's something I would have liked to have. But if it didn't happen, it didn't happen. It wouldn't have given me a better life or made me happier."

Also a six-time Fed Cup (now BJK Cup) champion, Kvitova says she is ready to open a new chapter in her life:

"I'm ready to stop. Mentally, I think I can't go on anymore. Emotionally and physically too. You remember how you used to play before. Everything was fluid, I was hitting winning shots, and suddenly, it all disappeared.

I'm totally ready to retire. I don't regret anything at all. I still love tennis, but everything else—waiting for practice, for the car, for a match—it's just exhausting. And having a son is a whole different life. I want to spend time with him too.