Share

Kvitova looks to Wimbledon as 'fairytale' ends

Paris - Petra Kvitova said she is eagerly looking ahead to returning to Wimbledon after her "fairytale" French Open comeback ended in the second round.

The Czech star lost 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) to American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands at Roland Garros on Wednesday in her first tournament since a terrifying knife attack at her home last December.

"It's weird. I mean, I'm disappointed, for sure. I came here to win the matches. I'm not here to sit and talk with you guys, but -- that's nice, as well," a smiling Kvitova told reporters.

"But I really fought. I mean, after the match, I didn't feel that bad as normally I probably do.

"I'm still happy I'm here and playing. The fairytale ended. Now, in upcoming weeks, I think it will be business as usual.

"That's what I'm looking forward to, just focusing on the tennis and on the game and everything what I do need to improve to my game."

Kvitova defeated Julia Boserup in the opening round in Paris, dropping to her knees in celebration before weeping at the net as her emotions took control.

And although the two-time Wimbledon champion fell prematurely on her return, Kvitova said it was "mission complete" after overcoming severe injuries to her left playing hand suffered while fighting off a knife-wielding burglar.

"I didn't really have expectations here. Just came to, you know, open my comeback, kind of," she said.

"The mission is completed, which I'm very happy for that, and I'm happy that this all ended. I just will focus now for grass and for tennis again."

The 27-year-old has yet to commit to any events ahead of Wimbledon but admitted she was keen to return to a regular routine as quickly as possible.

"Coming to Roland Garros was one of the things, which we were preparing for Wimbledon," said Kvitova, a winner at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014.

"We do have a lot of attention here. And Wimbledon should be much more relaxed afterwards. I really am looking forward to being there.

"It's a really great tournament for me. I have the best memories which I can have. I think that, you know, my game still suits on the grass, and I will do my best to be there.

"I will really enjoy the time to be there. We will have a house again in Wimbledon Village and will be similar to other years. I'm happy that I will not miss Wimbledon this year.

"I will probably enjoy it much more than the other years," she added.

French Open results on Wednesday, the fourth day of the 2017 tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeding):

Men

2nd rd

Milos Raonic (CAN x5) bt Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) bt Marco Trungelliti (ARG) 7-5, 6-4, 7-5

Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP x20) bt Taro Daniel (JPN) 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x11) bt Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-3, 6-4, 7-5

Jiri Vesely (CZE) bt Aljaz Bedene (GBR) 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x17) bt Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)

Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (8/6)

Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) bt Robin Haase (NED) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3

Dominic Thiem (AUT x6) bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 7-5, 6-1, 6-3

Steve Johnson (USA x25) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 6-2, 7-6 (10/8), 3-6, 7-6 (8/6)

Horacio Zeballos (ARG) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO x23) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3

David Goffin (BEL x10) bt Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Lucas Pouille (FRA x16) bt Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 6-2

Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP x19) bt Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) 6-2, 6-1, 6-1

Diego Schwartzman (ARG) bt Stefano Napolitano (ITA) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2

Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3

1st rd

Renzo Olivo (ARG) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4

Women

2nd rd

Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-2, 6-2

Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) bt Monica Puig (PUR) 6-3, 6-2

Samantha Stosur (AUS x23) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-2, 7-6 (8/6)

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) bt Petra Kvitova (CZE x15) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5)

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x11) bt Francoise Abanda (CAN) 6-0, 6-0

Catherine Bellis (USA) bt Kiki Bertens (NED x18) 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)

Zhang Shuai (CHN x32) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x8) bt Oceane Dodin (FRA) 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-3

Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt Anett Kontaveit (EST) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ x27) bt Johanna Larsson (SWE) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3

Shelby Rogers (USA) bt Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR) 7-6 (8/6), 6-4

Kristina Mladenovic (FRA x13) bt Sara Errani (ITA) 6-2, 6-3

Venus Williams (USA x10) bt Kurumi Nara (JPN) 6-3, 6-1

Elise Mertens (BEL) bt Richel Hogenkamp (NED) 6-3, 6-4

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI x30) bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-0, 6-2

Ons Jabeur (TUN) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x6) 6-4, 6-3

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1272 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1469 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE