'It still feels surreal': Petra Kvitova reflects on double Wimbledon glory ahead of retirement

Petra Kvitova is preparing for her final appearance at Wimbledon, shortly after announcing her retirement from the courts. The 35-year-old player returned at the beginning of the season after a career break to become a mother, and the return has not been overly successful for the Czech.

The champion of 31 WTA titles will grace the All England Club for the last time, where she won her two Grand Slam trophies. She received a wildcard from the organization, and Kvitova also hopes to play the US Open in two months, which will be the final appearance for the former world No. 2.

“When I was growing up, I never thought I could be a professional tennis player. Then when I became one, I was just dreaming of playing at Wimbledon, never about winning,” Petra Kvitova stated upon her arrival at Wimbledon. “When it happened, it felt very unreal, it still feels surreal for me, even though I won it twice. It feels like it was somebody else.”

Back in 2011, Kvitova, then 21, reached the Wimbledon final, defeating Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals. It was her first major final, and she would face Maria Sharapova in the title decider, who already had three major titles and had been champion at SW19 several years prior.

However, Kvitova delivered one of the best matches of her career to claim a 6-3, 6-4 victory and become a Grand Slam champion. "Before the 2011 final (against Sharapova), I woke up in the morning and my coach had gone into the garden of our house and used toilet paper to write ‘pojd’ on the ground, which is my ‘c’mon’ word in Czech when I’m fighting on court. It was a nice surprise."

Three years later, she made headlines again, reaching her second Grand Slam final. On her way, she had eliminated Venus Williams and Lucie Safarova, among others. She faced an inspired Eugenie Bouchard – who had defeated rivals like Andrea Petkovic, Angelique Kerber, and Simona Halep.

Against Bouchard, this time she was the favorite, as the more experienced and higher-ranked player. "The second time (2014), it was such a difficult draw for me: I had to face three Czechs and of course that is more stressful for me. Playing Eugenie (Bouchard) in final, I ‘should’ win, but it’s never easy and I just couldn’t eat anything all day before the final, I was too nervous."

“The second time I recognised what it felt like to win here, it was more satisfying, more enjoyable,” Kvitova added. “I have had my best memories right here.”

Kvitova will have a big chance to say goodbye in one of the main stadiums. One of Tuesday's blockbusters will be her match against 10th seed Emma Navarro. Since Kvitova returned to the courts at the beginning of the year she has a 1-6 record.