Share

Kvitova happy attack did not derail dream

London - Petra Kvitova is happy to achieve her dream of playing at Wimbledon next week after recovering from serious injuries to her playing hand sustained during a knife attack in her home last December. 

The two-times champion was expected to be sidelined for at least six months after the attack and the 27-year-old said she feared missing the grand slam event this year. 

Kvitova returned to action at the French Open, where she was knocked out in the second round, and won the Aegon Classic on Sunday on her favourite grass-court surface. 

"I said if I am not playing I will probably not come just to watch," Kvitova was quoted as saying by the Times. 

"Now I am coming to play which is even better. I think it will be amazing. It doesn't matter if I win, lose or whatever, but the dream which I set when it (the attack) happened, that I wanted to play Wimbledon this year, will come." 

The victory at Birmingham marked Kvitova's first title this year but she could not celebrate with her trademark clenched fist salute due to the lingering effects of the injury. 

"I still can't do my fist bump when I am playing," she added. "The doctor said it will never be the same because of the scars for sure, and then we don't know how everything will work out.

"But I am happy that I am playing tennis and not badminton because there is a small grip, so it would be more difficult for me to hold." 

The Czech Republic player is the 11th seed at Wimbledon which starts on Monday.

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
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1814 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1774 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1081 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 459 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 186 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 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