“I Have So Much Respect” – Petra Kvitova Pens Message for Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova has called time on her tennis career after 19 years in the sport. She exits after a highly successful career in the sport with 5 Grand Slam titles and numerous other WTA titles. Petra Kvitova shared a heartfelt message for the retiring Sharapova.

Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova played some epic battles between them over the years. Both are quality players, and often played in the latter stages of the events. The pair played a total of 11 matches against one another, and it was Sharapova who led the head to head with 7 wins over Petra’s four.

Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova

In 2011, Kvitova reached her maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. She met none other than Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion. It was Petra who won that crucial clash, beating Maria 6-3, 6-4 to deny the Russian her second Championship.

However, Sharapova would have her revenge in the following year. The two met in the semi finals of the 2012 Australian Open. This time around, it was the Russian who won the clash 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in a very tight and competitive match. Sharapova could not win the grand Slam, losing to Victoria Azarenka in the finals.

In the same year, Petra and Maria met again at Roland Garros. The pair played in the semi finals once again. And once again, Maria won the clash 6-3, 6-3 to proceed to the finals. The Russian did win the Grand Slam title, beating Sara Errani in the final.

But the two played some fantastic matches outside of the Majors too. Unsurprisingly, Kvitova had only good things to say about her rival.

Firstly, she gave a beaming review of Maria’s achievements, on and off the courts.

“I know how tough it is to come back and play. Maria has been injured a lot. but definitely she won five Grand Slams. She is a big champion. She has been a business lady off the court as well. So she achieved a lot in her life and she still has so many things to do, even after tennis.”

She followed it up with her feelings towards the Russian superstar.

“It was a pleasure for me to be with her on Tour, sharing the court with her. it was always great battles when we played together. I do always have respect for her. She’s been an amazing competitor, she never gives up.”

Petra absolutely summed up our thoughts on the retiring Russian too.