Beckham, Sharapova Attend Wimbledon As Kvitova Returns

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Beckham, Sharapova Attend Wimbledon As Kvitova Returns/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Wimbledon kicked off with celebrities like David Beckham and Maria Sharapova gracing the stands. Meanwhile, two-time champion Petra Kvitova returns for her emotional final appearance at the tournament. Fans celebrate both star power and heartfelt tennis farewells.

Sir David Beckham arrives to take his seats in the Royal Box on Centre Court on day one at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, June 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Actor Eddie Redmayne, his wife Hannah, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and Princess Beatrice, from right, take their seats in the Royal Box on Centre Court on day one at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, June 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Wimbledon 2025 Day 1 Quick Looks

David Beckham and Maria Sharapova among Wimbledon’s celebrity guests
Sharapova posts selfie with Beckham as tournament begins
Kvitova returns to Wimbledon after maternity leave
Czech star plans to retire after this year’s U.S. Open
Kvitova reflects on wins, losses, and special memories
Beckham cheers matches on Centre Court
Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne and coach Gareth Southgate attend
Kvitova faces Emma Navarro in emotional first-round match

FILE – Petra Kvitova, left, of the Czech Republic and Russia’s Maria Sharapova hold their trophies after Kvitova won in the ladies’ singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, July 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, file)

Czechia’s Petra Kvitova hits the ball during her match against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, not pictured, on day one of the HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Deep Look

Wimbledon Opens With Celebrity Glamor And Petra Kvitova’s Poignant Return For Final Appearance

LONDON — Wimbledon launched its 2025 edition in a blaze of star power and poignant sporting moments on Monday. Legendary figures from sports and entertainment flocked to the All England Club, including soccer icon David Beckham and tennis champion Maria Sharapova, adding extra shine to Day 1 of the prestigious tournament.

Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion who triumphed at age 17, shared a playful Instagram selfie alongside Beckham, captioned, “Let the (Wimbledon) games begin,” complete with a tennis ball emoji. The Russian star is set to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame later this year.

Former England soccer captain Beckham, the only player to have scored for his country in three World Cups and now co-owner of Inter Miami, was spotted among Centre Court’s distinguished guests. He joined other notable names, including Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and former England football manager Gareth Southgate, bringing Hollywood and sporting royalty to the stands.

While celebrities sparkled in the royal box, the grass courts witnessed a deeply personal story unfold for one of tennis’ most beloved champions.

Kvitova’s Bittersweet Farewell Begins

Petra Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon champion from the Czech Republic, returned to her favorite tournament after missing last year’s event due to maternity leave. Yet this visit holds special weight: it’s her last as a professional player. The 35-year-old announced just over a week ago that she plans to retire after the U.S. Open in September.

“It’s always brought me so many memories. Some really good memories, of course. But also bad memories, because losing with the pressure there is hard,” Kvitova told The Associated Press. “But at the end of the day, winning two titles is what counts the most.”

Kvitova’s Wimbledon journey has been a mixture of highs and lows. She suffered first-round exits in her initial two appearances in 2008 and 2009. However, she reached the semifinals in 2010 and, in 2011, seized her first Wimbledon title with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Maria Sharapova. She secured her second championship in 2014, overpowering Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0 in the final.

“It took me a while to get used to the grass,” Kvitova admitted. Yet the All England Club has become the site of her career’s most cherished triumphs — and some significant personal milestones.

A Court Full of Personal Memories

Beyond her victories, Wimbledon holds deep sentimental value for Kvitova. Jiri Vanek, her coach since 2016, proposed to her on Centre Court. The couple welcomed their son, Petr, during the middle weekend of last year’s Wimbledon fortnight.

Returning from a 17-month absence, Kvitova described her time away as feeling surprisingly short. “It actually feels like I never quit. It feels like I’ve been here every year,” she said.

Motherhood, though, has brought new challenges, particularly while balancing tennis and parenting.

“Traveling together is not easy sometimes,” she admitted. “The worst part is the logistics that come with it. Having so much stuff. Being in the hotel room it can be a little tough, especially when they’re small. He is starting to crawl and everything, so it’s a mess everywhere. But it also is fun. He’s a very good boy, so that makes it all a little bit easier.”

Ready For One Last Run

Currently ranked outside the top 500 due to her absence and a 1-6 record since returning in February, Kvitova is eager to savor each moment in London. She enters the tournament with a wildcard and is scheduled to face No. 10 seed Emma Navarro of the United States in the first round on Tuesday.

“It’ll be amazing, for sure. It’s my favorite tournament. It always has been and it always will be. So it’ll be very nice to be back,” Kvitova said.

Even fellow players are emotional about Kvitova’s retirement. Aryna Sabalenka, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, expressed disbelief over the news:

“I’m kind of sad. I was thinking when I saw the news: ‘Come on. Give it a try. Why? Why would you retire? Keep going.’”

As Wimbledon continues, fans and fellow athletes alike will be watching to see whether Kvitova’s farewell run can spark more magical moments on the grass she’s long called home.