Kvitova reflects on her time with retiring Safarova

Before the 2018 Fed Cup final, former world No. 5 Lucie Safarova announced her plans to retire from professional tennis after playing at the 2019 Australian Open.

And, most recently, fellow countrywoman Petra Kvitova had some kind words to share about Safarova.

"I think she does everything, except she didn't win a Grand Slam in the singles, but overall I think she had a great, great career,” Kvitova told reporters in Brisbane. “Everybody can be like jealous of her career. And definitely she is one of the legends in Czech Republic for sure."

The pair were teammates at the Fed Cup for several years and shared the Czech Republic’s championship victory last season.

“I do remember when I came to play, and she was one of the players that I looked up to,” Kvitova said. “We practiced a few times over there, and I was like [a] small child, hi, very shy. And we started to play the Fed Cups together, and kind of we were probably those two who really took the Fed Cup team pretty high, and we spent so many times in the Fed Cup weeks.”

“And sitting each other on the bench it was something really special. We knew how the other one was feeling," Kvitova added. "So you know when we played, we always catch the eyes when they are looking, and it was something really special to share those moments with her, and I'm very proud that we could do it together."

Safarova cited health concerns as the primary reason for her retirement. The 31-year-old was hospitalized with a bacterial infection following the 2015 French Open, and also ended her 2017 season because of tendon inflammation. This past season, she was able to play only 11 tournaments due to a virus, bacterial infection and joint pain.

Safarova hangs up her racquet with seven WTA singles titles and 15 doubles titles, including five Grand Slams with partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands. A French Open singles finalist, the Czech reached her highest singles ranking of No. 5 in 2015 and was ranked No. 1 in doubles in 2017.