Petra Kvitova, playing in just her second tournament since giving birth to her first child in July, lost a tight three-setter to Varvara Gracheva in the opening round of Indian Wells on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old is on the comeback trail seven months after giving birth to her son. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Petra Kvitova once again struggled with her rhythm, falling to Varvara Gracheva 6-4, 3-6, 4-6. The unforced errors took their toll on the two-time Grand Slam champion, who now faces her second consecutive defeat since returning after a year-long maternity break.

Find out how to watch, live stream, TV channel, tournament information, & more for Petra Kvitova vs. Varvara Gracheva at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova still awaiting her first win since returning after giving birth to her son; watch all the action from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+,

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova lost a tight three-setter in the opening round of Indian Wells on Wednesday, falling 4-6 6-3 6-4 to France's Varvara Gracheva. The loss leaves Kvitova searching for her first win since returning to the tour following the birth of her first child in July.

Former Miami Open champions Petra Kvitova and Sloane Stephens have received wild cards for this year's tournament, alongside rising teenagers Victoria Mboko, Sayaka Ishii and Tyra Caterina Grant.

Varvara Gracheva came from a set down to defeat Petra Kvitova in the BNP Paribas Open first round, and paid tribute to the returning mother afterwards.

INDIAN WELLS – Naomi Osaka admitted she was not at her best after she was bundled out of the first round at Indian Wells on March 5, falling 6-4, 6-4 to Camila Osorio in her first event since her injury exit at the Australian Open.

Petra Kvitova is all set to make her return from maternity leave at the 2025 ATX Open. The two-time Wimbledon has been away from the sport for 17 months but is staying positive about her new innings.

The upshot is that a popular player like Kvitova can afford to take time away to have a child, and feel like her return will be supported. It was only two years ago that she won Miami, so better results would seem to be likely. Judging by the crowd reaction to her entrance on Stadium 1 on Wednesday, she still has following.

Indian Wells will kick off with a blast from what feels like the distant past: The return of Petra Kvitova. The Czech, now 34, came back to the tour last week in Austin, after having a baby and spending more than a year away.