Petra Cetkovská

Personal life

Cetkovská has been playing tennis since she was five. Her father, Petr works at a pro shop in a local tennis club, while her mother Alena is a nurse. She has one younger brother, Matej. Petra's father is of Macedonian origin.

When she was 14, Cetkovská was involved in an incident with a friend while playing sport where her friend had accidentally pushed her against a wall. Two years later she was having brain surgery due to the swelling caused by the incident. A year later after that, she had contracted glandular fever, further hampering her tennis career prospects and the third obstacle had come when she broke her foot playing the Australian Open junior doubles final.

She is coached by Stéphane Charret and cites Roger Federer as her favorite player because he's "a great player and a good person." Cetkovská speaks Czech, French and English. She was involved in a relationship with ATP player Marcos Baghdatis when she was 19.

Career

Cetkovská turned professional in 2000. Since then, she has won 21 ITF singles titles and 24 doubles titles.

In 2007, she made a breakthrough in her WTA ranking, and notched 3 ITF titles. Also, she won her first WTA doubles title with compatriot Andrea Hlaváčková at the ECM Prague Open.

She made her grand slam main draw debut in 2007 US Open, going through to the second round by defeating Jill Craybas from USA. She eventually lost to 14th seed Elena Dementieva in her second round match.

2008

Cetkovská began the year by playing qualifying at the 2008 Moorilla Hobart International. In the 1st round of qualifying, she defeated Aleksandra Wozniak 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. In the 2nd round of qualifying, Cetkovská lost to 3rd seed Ashley Harkleroad 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. At the 2008 Australian Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to World Number 34 Anabel Medina Garrigues 7-6(1), 6-0.

After the Australian Open, Cetkovská played for the Czech Republic against Slovakia at the 2008 Fed Cup World Group II. She lost both of her matches to Dominika Cibulková 7-5, 6-3 and Magdaléna Rybáriková 6-4, 6-3. Even though Cetkovská lost both of her matches, the Czech Republic still managed to defeat Slovakia 3-2. After Fed Cup, Cetkovská competed at the 2008 Cachantún Cup. In the 1st round, she upset 3rd seed Émilie Loit 6-2, 7-6(6). In the 2nd round, Cetkovská lost to Mariya Koryttseva 6-3, 6-4. At the 2008 Copa Colsanitas, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to Mariya Koryttseva 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3). Playing at the 2008 Abierto Mexicano Telcel, she beat María Emilia Salerni in the 1st round 6-2, 7-5. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská lost to 8th seed Edina Gallovits 6-4, 6-3. However, in doubles, Cetkovská parterned up with her compatriot, Iveta Benešová. They reached the final, but they lost to Nuria Llagostera Vives/María José Martínez Sánchez in the final 6-2, 6-4. At the 2008 Pacific Life Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round of qualifying to Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. At the 25K tournament in Redding, Cetkovská lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6-3, 6-3. Playing at the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open, she beat wildcard Anna Tatishvili in the 1st round of qualifying 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-0. In the 2nd round of qualifying, Cetkovská lost to Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-1.

Cetkovská began her clay court season at the 2008 Estoril Open. In the 1st round, she defeated Alisa Kleybanova 6-3, 6-2. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská lost to 2nd seed and eventual champion Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-2. After Estoril, Cetkovská played at the 2008 Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem. In the 1st round, she defeated Sandra Klösel 6-4, 7-5. In the 2nd round, she upset 5th seed Timea Bacsinszky 6-1, 7-5. In the quarterfinals, Cetkovská lost to Gréta Arn 6-2, 6-2. Cetkovská won the 50K tournament in Bucharest defeating Sorana Cîrstea in the final 7-6(5), 7-6(3). Cetkovská won the 50K tournament in Saint-Gaudens defeating María José Martínez Sánchez in the final 6-4, 6-4. Ranked Number 77 at the 2008 French Open, Cetkovská upset the 23rd seed Alona Bondarenko in the first round 6-3, 6-0. In the 2nd round, she defeated Galina Voskoboeva 7-5, 6-3. In the 3rd round, she defeated qualifier Iveta Benešová 6-3, 6-3 to reach fourth round, her best Grand Slam showing at the French Open. However, on June 1, she suffered the heaviest defeat of her entire playing career, losing to World No.2 and eventual French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, 6–0, 6–0.

Cetkovská began her grass court season at the 2008 DFS Classic. In the 1st round, she defeated Meng Yuan 6-2, 6-1. In the 2nd round round, she upset 1st seed and World Number 10 Marion Bartoli 5-7, 6-4, 6-0. This was her 1st win over a Top 10 player. In the 3rd round, she beat Camille Pin 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3. In the quarterfinals, Cetkovská lost to 12th seed and eventual champion Kateryna Bondarenko 7-6(3), 6-2. At the 2008 Wimbledon Championships, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to World Number 60 Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-4, 6-3.

After Wimbledon, Cetkovská played at the 2008 Nordea Nordic Light Open. In the 1st round, she lost to qualifier and compatriot Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4. In doubles, Cetkovská parterned with her compatriot, Lucie Šafářová. They reached the final, but they lost to compatriots Iveta Benešová/Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová in the final 7-5, 6-4.

Cetkovská began her US Open series at the 2008 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. In the 1st round, Cetkovská led 4-6, 6-3, 4-1 before her opponent, 8th seed Tamira Paszek, retired due to a viral illness. In the 2nd round, she lost to wildcard and World Number 201 Lilia Osterloh 6-4, 6-1. At the 2008 Forest Hills Tennis Classic, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to Martina Müller 6-2, 6-3. Ranked World Number 66 at the 2008 US Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to 20th seed and compatriot Nicole Vaidišová 6-1, 6-2.

2009

Cetkovská began the 2009 year by playing at the 2009 ASB Classic. She lost in the 1st round to 5th seed Shahar Pe'er 7-6(4), 6-2. After Auckland, Cetkovská competed at the 2009 Medibank International Sydney. She lost in the 1st round of qualifying to Vera Dushevina 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3. At the 2009 Australian Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to World Number 68 Marina Erakovic 6-4, 7-5.

2012: Highest ranking

Cetkovská began the year by playing at the 2012 Australian Open. Seeded 32nd, she defeated Ayumi Morita in the 1st round 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. In the 2nd round, she lost to Mona Barthel 7-5, 6-3.

After the Australian Open, Cetkovská played at the 2012 Open GDF Suez. In the 1st round, she beat Lucky Loser Alberta Brianti 6-3, 6-3. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská lost to 6th seed Julia Görges 6-1, 6-4. At the 2012 Qatar Total Open, she defeated Petra Martić in the 1st round 7-6(5), 7-5. In the 2nd round, she beat 13th seed Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-4. In the 3rd round, Cetkovská lost to 3rd seed and eventual finalist Sam Stosur 6-3, 6-2. At the 2012 Dubai Tennis Championships, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to 8th seed Jelena Janković 6-2, 6-2. In March, Cetkovská competed at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open. Seeded 28th, she received a bye to the 2nd round. Cetkovská lost in the 2nd round to World Number 50 Simona Halep 6-2, 6-4. At the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open, Cetkovská was the 29th seed, and she also received a bye to the 2nd round. In the 2nd round, she defeated American Christina McHale 0-6, 7-5, 6-1. In the 3rd round, Cetkovská lost to 4th seed and former World Number 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 7-5.

Cetkovská began her clay court season at the 2012 Barcelona Ladies Open. Seeded 6th, she defeated Shahar Pe'er in the 1st round 6-1, 5-7, 7-5. In the 2nd round, she lost to Carla Suárez Navarro 6-2, 6-4. At the 2012 Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem, Cetkovská was the 3rd seed. In the 1st round, she beat qualifier Melinda Czink 6-4, 6-2. In the 2nd round, she defeated Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, Cetkovská lost to Lucky Loser Mathilde Johansson 6-3, 6-4. However, in doubles, Cetkovská and Alexandra Panova won the title defeating the Romanian Team Irina-Camelia Begu/Alexandra Cadanţu in the final 3-6, 7-6(5), 11-9. At the 2012 Portugal Open, Cetkovská was the 4th seed. In the 1st round, she defeated Alexandra Panova 6-2, 6-1. In the 2nd round, she beat qualifier Heather Watson 6-3, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, Cetkovská lost to 6th seed and eventual champion Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. After the Portugal Open, Cetkovská competed at the 2012 Mutua Madrid Open. In the 1st round, Cetkovská upset 10th seed Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-2. In the 2nd round, she beat qualifier Lourdes Domínguez Lino 6-4, 7-5. In the 3rd round, she lost to 5th seed Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-2. At the 2012 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Cetkovská defeated qualifier Olga Govortsova in the 1st round 7-5, 6-4. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská upset 3rd seed Agnieszka Radwańska 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. In the 3rd round, she was crushed by Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-0, 6-1. Cetkovská was the 24th seed at the 2012 French Open. In the 1st round, she beat Simona Halep 6-1, 6-3. In the 2nd round, she lost to Mathilde Johansson 7-6(1), 6-2.

Cetkovská began her grass court season at the 2012 Aegon International. Seeded 9th, she beat compatriot and Lucky Loser Andrea Hlaváčková in the 1st round 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská lost to compatriot Klára Zakopalová 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. Seeded 23rd at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, Cetkovská defeated Vania King in the 1st round 6-4, 6-2. In the 2nd round, she lost to Sloane Stephens 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3.

2013: Return from injury

Cetkovská did not play for the first 4 months of the 2013 season due to a recurring left foot stress fracture, having pulled out of nine tournaments. She made her comeback at the 2013 Internationaux de Strasbourg where she lost in the 1st round to Johanna Larsson 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. At the 2013 French Open, Cetkovská won against Olga Puchkova in the 1st round 6-0, 6-2. In the 2nd round, she beat 19th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the 3rd round at the French Open for the 1st time since 2008. In the 3rd round, Cetkovská lost to 15th seed Roberta Vinci 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.

Cetkovská began her grass court season at the 2013 Aegon Classic. She lost in the 1st round to Mathilde Johansson 7-5, 6-2. Cetkovská successfully qualified for the 2013 Wimbledon Championships defeating Grace Min in the final round of qualifying 6-0, 6-2. In the 1st round, she defeated Donna Vekić 6-3, 6-1. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská upset 9th seed and former World Number 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2. In the 3rd round, she lost to 17th seed Sloane Stephens 7-6(3), 0-6, 6-4.

After Wimbledon, Cetkovská played at the 2013 Open GDF Suez de Biarritz. In the 1st round, she retired trailing 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 to her opponent Yuliya Beygelzimer. At the 2013 Western & Southern Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round of qualifying to 24th seed Marina Erakovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. At the 2013 New Haven Open at Yale, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round of qualifying to 7th seed Ayumi Morita 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. Cetkovská then played with a protected ranking at the 2013 US Open; she lost in the 1st round to Sofia Arvidsson 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.

At the 2013 Tashkent Open, Cetkovská defeated wildcard Nigina Abduraimova in the 1st round 6-2, 7-6(2). She lost in the 2nd round to 3rd seed Yvonne Meusburger 7-5, 6-4. At the 2013 Guangzhou International Women's Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to Galina Voskoboeva 6-3, 6-1. At the 2013 Ningbo International Women's Tennis Open, Cetkovská lost in the 2nd round to 4th seed Yvonne Meusburger 6-2, 6-1. At the 2013 China Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round of qualifying to 11th seed Galina Voskoboeva 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Cetkovská played her final tournament of the year at the 2013 HP Open. She lost in the 1st round to Polona Hercog 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.

Cetkovská ended the year ranked 132.

2014

Cetkovská missed the Australian Open due to a hip injury. She returned at the 2014 Open GDF Suez. She played qualifying in order to be in the main draw. In the 1st round of qualifying, Cetkovská beat Alison Van Uytvanck 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3. In the 2nd round of qualifying, she defeated Lourdes Domínguez Lino 7-5, 5-7, 6-1. In the final round of qualifying, Cetkovská lost to Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2, 6-2. Next, Cetkovská played at the 2014 Qatar Total Open. She successfully qualified by defeating Anastasia Rodionova in the final round of qualifying 6-2, 3-0 ret. In the 1st round, she beat 14th seed Sloane Stephens 7-5, 6-1. In the 2nd round, she defeated Shuai Zhang 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. In the 3rd round, Cetkovská upset 1st seed and World Number 3 Li Na 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-4 to hand Li Na her 1st loss of the year. In the quarterfinals, she lost to 6th seed and eventual finalist Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-0.

At the 2014 BNP Paribas Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to American wildcard Shelby Rogers 6-0, 6-4. Seeded 10th for qualifying at the 2014 Sony Open Tennis, Cetkovská lost in the final round of qualifying to 20th seed Estrella Cabeza Candela 6-4, 6-4. At the 50K tournament in Osprey, Cetkovská beat Melanie Oudin in the 1st round 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5). She then withdrew from her 2nd round match against Kiki Bertens.

Cetkovská began her clay court season at the 2014 Family Circle Cup. In the 1st round, she defeated Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 2-6, 6-0. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská lost to 13th seed Elena Vesnina 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. At the 2014 Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to 3rd seed Yvonne Meusburger 6-3, 6-3. Cetkovská then successfully qualified for the 2014 Mutua Madrid Open by defeating 4th seed Monica Puig 6-2, 7-6(3) and Mona Barthel 6-4, 6-4. In the 1st round, she beat Stefanie Vögele 6-1, 6-3. In the 2nd round, Cetkovská lost to 16th seed Sloane Stephens 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

2015: More injuries

Cetkovská withdrew from the 2015 Australian Open due to a hip injury. Cetkovská returned in March to compete at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open. She lost in the 1st round to American Christina McHale 6-4, 7-5. At the 2015 Miami Open, Cetkovská lost easily in the 1st round to wildcard Paula Badosa Gibert 6-1, 6-1.

At the 2015 French Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to Misaki Doi 6-3, 6-2.

Cetkovská began her grass court season by playing at the 50K tournament in Surbiton. She defeated Laura Deigman in the 1st round 6-1, 6-3. In the 2nd round, she lost to Naomi Broady 6-1, 7-5. At the 2015 Aegon Classic, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round to qualifier Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-2. Cetkovská successfully qualified for the 2015 Wimbledon Championships by defeating Elise Mertens in the final round of qualifying 6-3, 6-2. In the 1st round, she lost to Tímea Babos 7-6(4), 6-3.

At the 50K tournament in Olomouc, Cetkovská reached the final, but lost to Barbora Krejčiková 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5). However, Cetkovská won the 75K tournament in Sobota-Rokietnica defeating Jeļena Ostapenko in the final 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. At the 75K tournament in Prague, Cetkovská lost in the semifinals to María Teresa Torró Flor 7-6(9), 7-5.

At the 2015 US Open, Cetkovská defeated Christina McHale in the 1st round 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. In the 2nd round, she upset 4th seed, former World Number 1, and last year finalist Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1). As the underdog, she saved 4 match points in the final set and won the match. In the 3rd round, Cetkovská lost to 26th seed and eventual champion Flavia Pennetta 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. Nevertheless, this was Cetkovská's best showing at the US Open.

Her final tournament of the year was the 50K tournament in Saint-Malo. In the 2nd round, she retired against Laura Pous-Tió after losing the 1st set 6-3.

Cetkovská ended the year ranked 131.

2016

Cetkovská withdrew from the 2016 Hobart International due to a lower back injury. Cetkovská then played at the 2016 Australian Open. This is the 1st time since 2012 that Cetkovská played at the Australian Open. In the 1st round, she lost to 30th seed Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-4.

At the 2016 BNP Paribas Open, Cetkovská lost in the 1st round easily to compatriot Denisa Allertová 6-0, 6-1. At the 2016 Miami Open, Cetkovská lost easily in the 1st round to Heather Watson 6-1, 6-0.

Cetkovská missed the 2016 Volvo Car Open due to a right thigh injury. Cetkovská played qualifying at the 2016 French Open. However, in the 1st round of qualifying, Cetkovska retired trailing 0-6, 0-2 to 18th seed Kristína Kučová.

Head vs Head Record