Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced on New Year’s Day that she and husband and coach Jiri Vanek were expecting their first child, and the Czech gave birth earlier this week during The Championships to a son, Petr, on 7 July.
The 34-year old gave the news on social media two days after former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Alison Riske-Amritraj welcomed her first child, daughter Calen Ann Amritraj.
Kvitova, a former World No 2 who has been on maternity leave for the entire season so far, married Vanek in July of last year in their native Czech Republic after the couple had been together romantically since 2021.
The third of the WTA tour’s new moms in 2024, Belinda Bencic, was one of the first players to congratulate Kvitova in the comments of her post, sending three heart emojis.
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist from Switzerland welcomed her daughter Bella in April.
Kvitova finished the 2023 season as the World No 14, a year that was highlighted by title triumphs at Miami and Berlin, the win in Miami being her first WTA 1000-level trophy in 5 years.
Alison Riske-Amritraj welcomed a daughter, Calen, on 5 July
Five years ago at Wimbledon, American Riske-Amritraj broke new ground at a Grand Slam with a quarter-final showing, famously upsetting future winner Ashleigh Barty in the Aussie’s first Grand Slam tournament as World No 1 in the 4th round.
The former World No 18 announced the arrival on Monday with her husband, Stephen Amritraj, on Instagram: “Calen Ann Amritraj has entered the chat👑
“We hope our little girl will possess the same qualities of the most important ladies in our own life- our mothers, Carol and Helen. We combined the two names and came up with Calen🤍Our mothers also ironically share the same middle name, Ann, so it made that one easy! May she be full of the same grace, love, grit, and strength, (amongst many other wonderful things), as her namesakes.
“Cheers to our 5th of July firecracker- may this life be everything you ever dream of. 🩷 Dad & mom couldn’t be more excited and in love!!!!”
Riske-Amritraj’s Instagram post was flooded with well wishes within minutes of posting, including from Coco Gauff and Emma Navarro.
“Welcome Calen,” doubles specialist Asia Muhammad, a Billie Jean King Cup teammate of Riske-Amritraj’s two years ago, added. “You have really cool parents.”
Riske-Amritraj last competed exactly a year ago, fittingly at Wimbledon, before announcing her pregnancy in March.
“Cheers to our 5th of July firecracker – may this life be everything you ever dream of,” she added. “Dad & mom couldn’t be more excited and in love!!!!”
Belinda Bencic gave birth to a baby girl, Bella, on 23 April
