Petra Kvitova has given birth to twins, but several controversies surrounding her remain unresolved.

Former world No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova recently announced on social media the birth of twin daughters, receiving many congratulations. As a Czech star who was once close to Li Na and has a large fan base in China, this should have been a warm moment. However, beyond the joyous news of childbirth, multiple controversial incidents involving Kvitova over the past few years have left many of her former fans feeling conflicted. While the happy event stands on its own, certain behavioral "blemishes" do not automatically vanish with the arrival of new life.

First controversy: The emotional entanglement with her current husband, accused of "repaying kindness with betrayal"

Kvitova's current husband, Vanecek, long served as her coach, and when their romantic relationship began, Vanecek was married. More troublingly, according to reports from multiple tennis forums and Czech media, after Kvitova was attacked in her home in 2016 and severely injured her playing hand, Vanecek's wife (his legal spouse at the time) repeatedly visited the hospital to care for Kvitova diligently. At that time, the wife regarded Kvitova as her husband's player, an injured athlete needing help, and offered genuine kindness. However, Kvitova later developed a relationship with Vanecek that exceeded professional and friendly boundaries, directly leading to the breakdown of his marriage. From any perspective, repaying a woman who once cared for her by "intervening in another's marriage" is hardly considered dignified. Emotions are a personal matter, but harming someone who helped you leaves an objective moral debt.

Second controversy: Commenting a "clapping" emoji on a post about canceling the Chinese tennis season

Around 2020, due to pandemic reasons, the Chinese tennis season was forced to be canceled or adjusted. Many WTA players expressed regret or dissatisfaction, but Kvitova's action was particularly glaring—she left a "clapping hands" emoji under a social media post about "canceling the Chinese season," where clapping typically signifies approval or joy. The cancellation of the Chinese season meant many Chinese fans had no high-level tournaments to watch for a long time and also interrupted China's efforts in hosting tennis events. As a player long enjoying a positive commercial image and substantial fan base in China, Kvitova's emoji was widely interpreted as "schadenfreude." Although she may not have directly explained later, the harm was already done. Her Chinese fans felt "betrayed"—we cheered for you, yet you applauded the cancellation of our tournaments. This image collapse was not without reason.

Third controversy: High-profile support for Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war, revealing simplistic political judgment

After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Kvitova quickly and clearly expressed support for Ukraine. Viewed solely, "supporting resistance against aggression" is not problematic, but critics pointed out that her manner of expression was full of Western-style political correctness yet lacked understanding of complex geopolitics. For instance, she never expressed any reflection on background factors such as NATO expansion or Ukraine's tolerance of neo-Nazi forces domestically, merely following mainstream Western narratives. More crucially, as an athlete, she had never spoken out on similar or even more severe humanitarian crises in other countries. This "selective justice" exposed the utilitarian and superficial nature of her political stance. Athletes certainly can have their own political positions, but if a stance entirely depends on which topic is safer or more advantageous in Western discourse, it can only be described as intellectual laziness, even foolishness. Her statements further cost her points among fan communities in non-Western worlds.

Fourth controversy: After winning Miami, shooing away a little girl asking for an autograph, then turning to passionately kiss her coach

This incident occurred after Kvitova won the Miami Open. According to recollections from spectators and multiple tennis media outlets, a little girl approached courtside hoping for Kvitova's autograph, but Kvitova gestured to her team members to shoo the girl away, with a rather cold attitude. Immediately afterward, however, she passionately kissed Vanecek, then still her coach, publicly to celebrate the victory. This contrast was striking: rudely rejecting a request from an innocent young fan, yet showing intimate affection for her lover without reservation. Professional athletes' post-match excitement is understandable, but basic kindness toward children should not be sacrificed. Later, some fans argued that "she might not have seen" or "security rules," but on-site videos and descriptions from multiple witnesses indicated Kvitova made a clear gesture of refusal. This incident completely shattered her "approachable persona."

Kvitova was once a good friend of Li Na and won countless Chinese fans' hearts with her fierce yet elegant playing style. She endured a severe knife attack, and her perseverance after recovery was moving. However, separate matters should be considered separately. Giving birth to twins is certainly a joyous life event worthy of congratulations, but this does not mean past actions that hurt fans' feelings or crossed moral boundaries can be erased. A player can simultaneously be a great champion and a flawed individual. For Kvitova, we wish her children healthy growth, but we should not forget her various controversies—these controversies are not a "mask" being removed, but consequences of choices she repeatedly made herself. Whether to like her or not, fans have their own judgments. (Source: Tennis Home, Author: Xiao Di)