Wimbledon has always been a place of many happy memories for two-time champion Petra Kvitova and this year has been no exception.
Taking to social media, the Czech confirmed that she got engaged to her partner Jiri Vanek at what she describes as her ‘special place.’ She did not give any details about how the proposal took place. Kvitova confirmed the news less than a week before the start of the US Open and three days after she reached the final of the Western and Southern Open.
“Happy news we wanted to share with you guys … I said ‘yes’ in my special place,” Kvitova wrote in a Twitter post featuring a photo of the pair at SW19.
Vanek has been working as Kvitova’s coach since November 2016 and is a former player himself. During his career, the 44-year-old won 11 Challenger titles, represented his country at the 2000 Olympic Games and peaked at a ranking high of No.74.
It is unclear how long the two have been dating. In August 2021 Kvitova said during an interview with Blesk that she and Vanek are in a relationship but denied they were an item the year prior. At that time there were rumours going around that they were romantically involved with each other. Vanek, who has also previously coached Karolina Pliskova, is divorced and has two children from another relationship.
The announcement comes as Kvitova enters this year’s US Open with a win-loss record of 22-16 so far this season. In June she won her 29th Tour title at the Eastbourne International after defeating Jelena Ostapenko in the final. She is currently ranked 21st in the world.
The US Open will begin on Monday. It will be Kvitova’s 55th appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam.
