Petra Kvitova’s long-awaited return ends in loss, but her level looks promising against Jodie Burrage

Petra Kvitova squandered her chances and returned to the WTA Tour with a defeat against Jodie Burrage, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6 at ATX Open Austin. The Czech star made her comeback after a 17-month maternity break and showed promising form, suggesting she could quickly regain her ranking position.

When Kvitova decided to take a break from her career in October 2023, she was in excellent shape, having won the WTA 1000 Miami Open and the WTA 500 Berlin Ladies Open that same year. She finished the season ranked world No. 15 despite skipping several tournaments throughout the year.

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Until a couple of seasons ago, Burrage seemed poised to become one of Britain’s leading players, breaking into the top 100 and winning her first title at 23. However, injuries have kept her out for long periods, and with a low ranking of No. 187, she is now struggling to compete in ITF events, far from the spotlight of major tournaments.

First Set

Kvitova couldn’t have started better, securing an early break against a hesitant Burrage, who looked erratic throughout the set and conceded two consecutive breaks in the early stages. Meanwhile, Kvitova, without being spectacular, took control of the match.

Kvitova last match on the Tour was at China Open - October 2023.

The two-time Wimbledon champion started strong on serve, dictating the pace of play with quick points lasting no more than four shots. The Czech’s strategy was clear: when drawn into longer rallies, she appeared sluggish in her movement and tended to commit unforced errors. In just 18 minutes, she was already up 4-0.

Kvitova’s serve—one of her biggest weapons throughout her career—was solid considering it was her first high-level match in quite some time, winning 56% of her service points compared to just 46% from her opponent.

The Czech went up 5-1, saving multiple break points along the way, but Burrage managed to recover one of the breaks to close the gap to 3-5. However, the break didn’t seem to affect Kvitova mentally, as she immediately broke back to seal the set 6-3.

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Second Set

If returning to a high level was already a challenge for Kvitova, maintaining it throughout an entire match was even tougher—and Burrage knew it. A series of exchanged breaks early on (one for Kvitova, two for Burrage) gave the Brit the advantage. It was a rollercoaster set in which the Czech managed to level things at 4-4, but errors in rallies continued to cost her, especially as she started to struggle physically.

The former world No. 2 won 59% of points on her first serve, but Burrage posted an impressive 79%. Despite everything, the 35-year-old managed to stay in contention and came close to securing a victory on her return. However, the 25-year-old Brit showed resilience, regaining control and winning 8 of the last 10 points to force a deciding set, taking the second 6-4.

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Third Set

At the start of the third set, Burrage took control, despite neither player securing a break. When Burrage served at 3-4, a break for Kvitova seemed imminent as she earned four break points, but the Brit’s first serve ultimately bailed her out, keeping the outcome uncertain.

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The 25-year-old fully capitalized on the momentum, seizing her first break opportunity in the following game before serving out a remarkable 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory to advance to the next round.

The match ended with Kvitova hitting six aces and 12 double faults, while Burrage recorded 14 aces and eight double faults—a combined total of 20 aces and 20 double faults, an unusual stat line on the WTA Tour. The Czech needs to improve her movement and find more consistency on serve—while also cutting down on unforced errors—although her backhand power remains intact. It wouldn’t be surprising to see her regain her level as the season progresses.

Match Stats

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