via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova in action during her semi final match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova in action during her semi final match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova continues inspiring her fans in face of adversity. Having won a bronze medal in singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Kvitova suffered a life-threatening incident later that year. A man invaded her house and stabbed Kvitova in her home in the Czech Republic.
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrates winning her fourth round match against China’s Zhang Shuai REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
The tennis star suffered severe wounds to her left hand and underwent surgery to return on the WTA tour within five months. Since then, she has won multiple titles and has faced the challenges posed by the 2020 season head-on. Kvitova made it to the semifinals of the French Open for the first time since 2012 and also finished as the runner-up at the Qatar Open.
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Recently, in an interview, Kvitova reflected on her since the horrendous incident. The 30-year-old revealed that she was fighting for her survival and the incident drastically changed her life.
“To be very honest, I didn’t know what will happen in my life,” Kvitova recalled. “I was (fighting to) survive, first of all, to be still alive. (But) I will never forget what happened. I know how I changed (because of it).”
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“I’m a fighter”: Petra Kvitova
World No.8 contended that fighting back from the knife attack gave her a perspective on life and subsequently helped her fight in her tennis career. Kvitova has helped her country win six team titles in the last decade in the Billie Jean King Cup.
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova in action during her fourth round match against China’s Zhang Shuai REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
“I knew how to fight on the court, but this was the situation when I find out that off the court I’m a fighter, too. Maybe even bigger. So, yeah, it (gave) me a lot. I mean, the perspective of life as well, the perspective of tennis,” remarked Kvitova.
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With the Tokyo Olympics postponed to July next year, Kvitova will aim to win a singles gold medal. She is currently preparing for the 2021 Australian Open and is utilizing the time-off to cool herself mentally. Kvitova’s best result at the Australian Open was reaching the final in 2019, which she lost to Naomi Osaka in a three-set thriller.
