Birmingham: Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova stated that returning to the scene of her ‘fairytale’ first Grand Slam win will be a particularly emotional occasion this year.
Kvitova only recently returned to competition at the French Open after a knife attack at her home in the Czech Republic in December left her with an injured left hand. She lost in the second round. But she is relishing her return to the tennis courts.
“When I was on the way back I thought, I would really like to play Wimbledon and I feel that I can say, in some way, I am ready for Wimbledon. I played Roland Garros as a preparation,” she said here Monday.
She also said that she had been overwhelmed by the welcome she got from fellow players and others in the game. “It was amazing. I was really looking forward to seeing other players and coaches (but) I didn’t expect that huge welcome from all of them. It was so nice to see them all smiling and wishing me good luck and welcoming me back,” informed the Czech.
She can expect much more of that when she turns up at the All England Club where she enjoyed a surprise win over Maria Sharapova in the 2011 final and then triumphed again three years later, beating Canadian Eugenie Bouchard.
“I love the people there. I love England. At Wimbledon, it feels so quiet, so comfy, for me as a home. I am always renting a house and for me it is more than a tournament, I feel like we are a family there. It is just more relaxed for me, it is amazing,” she stated with a smile lighting up her face.
Kvitova was an eighth-ranked 21-year-old when she first won Wimbledon and she admitted that at point of time she did not really know how to handle the moment.
“The first one was like a fairytale, I have to say. I really didn’t know what was happening. I won the Grand Slam but I was like ‘OK, what now?’. That win was a surprise for me and other people. The second one was more special, deeper, I really enjoyed it more,” added the Czech.
Winning start
Two-times Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova got her grass season off to a positive start with a 6-2, 6-3 win over compatriot Tereza Smitkova at the Aegon Classic tennis tournament here Tuesday. She took 83 minutes to beat 22-year-old Smitkova, who is ranked 167th in the world.