Never abandon hope

Knife-attack victim Kvitova glad to be back on court

SWEAT-SOAKED and still wearing her match outfit, Petra Kvitova was looking for someone to hug as she wandered into the players’ lounge in the French Open’s main stadium shortly after leaving the court.

She found her father, Jiri, and her brother, also Jiri, who greeted her with warm embraces and joyous kisses on the cheek. Kvitova’s family members rarely attend her tournaments, but this was different – “special” was the word she, and others, kept using.

Less than six months after a knife attack at her home, two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova was back competing, winning the first match of her comeback 6-3, 6- 2 at Roland Garros against 86th-ranked Julia Boserup of the United States on Sunday.

“I’m happy with the game, of course,” Kvitova said, “but I mean, it wasn’t really about the game today.”

Indeed, just being there under a cloud- filled sky at Philippe Chatrier Court was a triumph of sorts for Kvitova, who needed surgery on her left hand – the one she uses to hold her racquet – after being stabbed by an intruder in the Czech Republic in late December. She was undecided until late last week whether to even try to play in the French Open.

“For us, it’s amazing. It’s miracle. Not even me or Petra thought she could be ready to come back so soon,” said her coach, Jiri Vanek. “The prognosis was, let’s just say, not optimistic.”

During her on-court interview, Kvitova addressed Vanek, her family and others in her guest box, saying: “Thank you for everything you helped me through (in) this difficult time.”

Several members of her entou- rage wore black T- shirts with white capital letters on the front that read, “Courage. Belief. Pojd.” That last word, which is the Czech equivalent of “Come on!” and was spelled with a red heart instead of an O is often yelled by Kvitova to celebrate particularly good shots.

“The belief and the mind, the heart, it’s really important,” Kvitova said afterwards. “So that’s ... what we try to show everyone. I hope that it will be kind of inspiration for other people, as well.”

When the match was over, Kvitova dropped her racquet near the baseline and removed her blue headband. As she walked to the net for a handshake, her eyes welled with tears.

“We are happy that she is healthy. The hand is good – and also the head,” her brother Jiri said. “Mentally, she is back.”

Dazzling start: Petra Kvitova clenches her fist after winning a point against Julia Boserup in the first round of the French Open on Sunday. Inset: Kvitova’s coach, Jiri Vanek (second from left) and supporters during the match. — AP