Petra Kvitová
A fierce left-handed champion who battled back from a terrifying attack to reclaim her place among tennis's elite, winning Wimbledon twice.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Czech tennis player·Birthday: March 8·Millennials
Biography
Petra Kvitová brought a rare blend of raw power and delicate touch to the women's tennis tour. Her left-handed game, built on a punishing flat forehand and a surprisingly deft net touch, exploded onto the scene when she conquered Wimbledon in 2011 as a 21-year-old. She added a second Wimbledon crown in 2014, establishing herself as the game's premier grass-court force. Then, in 2016, her career and life were threatened when a knife-wielding intruder attacked her in her home, severely injuring her dominant left hand. The grueling physical and mental recovery that followed became her most defining chapter. Miraculously, she returned to the tour within five months and, less than two years later, climbed back to the world's top 10. This courageous comeback, culminating in a 2019 Australian Open final run, transformed her story from one of mere championship to one of profound human resilience.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Petra was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Petra Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Petra's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Wimbledon ladies' singles championship in 2011 and again in 2014.
- Achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in 2011.
- Won the season-ending WTA Finals in 2011.
- Earned a bronze medal in singles at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Did You Know?
She is an avid fan of ice hockey and supports the Czech team HC Vítkovice.
Kvitová was the first player born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam singles title.
She has won the WTA's Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship award multiple times.
“I already won my biggest fight.”
