Attack victim Kvitova relishing Wimbledon return

Record ID: 896102

  • Title: Attack victim Kvitova relishing Wimbledon return
  • Date: 19th June 2017
  • Summary: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UK (JUNE 19, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETRA KVITOVA, ON HER WELCOME BACK TO THE TENNIS WORLD, SAYING: "It's amazing actually, I was really looking forward to see other players, coaches and people around. I mean I didn't really expect that huge welcome from all of them, so it was really nice to see them smiling, wishing me good luck and welcoming me back."
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 12:38
  • Keywords: Petra Kvitova tennis Birmingham Wimbledon
  • Location: BIRMINGHAM AND LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / PRAGUE AND PROSTEJOV, CZECH REPUBLIC
  • City: BIRMINGHAM AND LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / PRAGUE AND PROSTEJOV, CZECH REPUBLIC
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sport,Tennis
  • Reuters ID: LVA00C6LY21XB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova says 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 after a knife attack at her home in the Czech Republic in December left her with an injured left hand.
    While she is back in action, her hand remains troublesome and she is not sure if it will ever fully be back to how it was.
    Rehab has only been part of the work that the 27-year-old has had to undergo. Psychologically, the violent attempted robbery clearly left a scar.
    She returned to action at the French Open this month, losing in the second round, and she is playing on the grass at the Aegon Classic at Edgbaston this week as she builds up to her favourite event.
    Kvitova, who plays fellow Czech Tereza Smitkova in Birmingham on Tuesday, said she had been overwhelmed by the welcome she got from fellow players and others in the game.
    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.
    Kvitova was an eighth-ranked 21-year-old when she first won Wimbledon and she admits she did not really know how to handle the moment.
    It would be a major surprise if, after everything that has happened, Kvitova were to claim a third Wimbledon title.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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