Petra Kvitova say she won’t return to her prime again after becoming a mother

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, aged 34, expressed that she has found inspiration in the achievements of several new mothers who have successfully returned to the WTA Tour.

However, the Czech player is managing her expectations as she prepares for her own comeback from maternity leave this week.

The former world number two, who will celebrate her 35th birthday next month, welcomed her son Petr in July of last year. She is set to make her return to the WTA Tour in Austin, Texas, prior to participating in prominent hardcourt tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.

Notably, new mothers Elina Svitolina and Naomi Osaka have both demonstrated impressive performances upon their return to competitive play, while Belinda Bencic recently secured the title in Abu Dhabi this month.

"Those girls are pretty young still of course, I would say my age is different," Kvitova told the WTA website.

"But we're used to working hard. Even after pregnancy and giving birth we know what to do and we're willing to do it. When you already played well before, you want to be back where you belong, basically.

"Belinda and I are in touch, and it's nice she's playing so well. Her daughter is like two and a half months older than our Petr, so that's fun. She just showed us that it's possible, coming back after giving birth. That's a good sign."

Kvitova meets Briton Jodie Burrage later on Tuesday in her first match in 17 months and she said it felt like a big deal.

"Sometimes I'm really surprised by myself. Like, why I did it? I would have regretted it if I didn't come back," she said.

"I'm not putting any goals on myself, I'll never play as good as I was playing when I was winning tournaments.

"I want to enjoy myself playing tennis and it'll take time."

SportsLigue