Stabbing victim Kvitova lines up Wimbledon comeback
One of the most unpleasant sporting stories of the past six months – the stabbing of former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova during an attempted burglary – appears to be nearing an upbeat conclusion.
Kvitova’s spokesman confirmed yesterday that she was almost ready to play again on the tour, and that a return as soon as next week’s French Open could still be possible.
It is more likely, however, that Kvitova will come back on grass – the surface that best rewards her left-handed serve and sweetly struck groundstrokes. According to the spokesman, her long-term goal is “to be able to play at Wimbledon”.
Shortly before Christmas, Kvitova was at home in the Czech town of Prostejov when she was attacked by an intruder, who slashed her racket hand deeply enough to damage the tendons. She underwent four hours of surgery, followed by a threemonth recovery period, in which she was unable to hold a racket.
“If you know anything about me,” she wrote on Twitter at the time, “I am strong and I will fight back.” She appears to have been as good as her word. Her surgeon expected her to be returning to the practice court around now, so she is a long way ahead of schedule.
Kvitova’s news means that the women’s draw at next week’s French Open is looking increasingly like an anomaly. We are likely to see three former grand slam champions at Wimbledon who will be missing in Paris next week. The other two are Maria Sharapova – who will have to go through qualifying at Roehampton and was yesterday granted a wild card into the Rogers Cup in Toronto in August – and Victoria Azarenka, who became a mother in December. It is understood that Azarenka is looking at the Aegon Open in Nottingham, from June 10-18, as her likely comeback event.
There was an unpleasant tone to the comments made last month by Max Eisenbud, Sharapova’s agent, who said that the French Open would be the “last chance” for “journeyman players like [Agnieszka] Radwanska and [Caroline] Wozniacki” to win a slam. But it is hard to deny that the event – which is also missing the pregnant Serena Williams – will be the most open major since the 1980s.
Meanwhile, there were differing fortunes for two Britons in the opening round of French Open qualifying yesterday. Heather Watson managed to come back from a set and a break down against world No 172 Anastasiya Komardina to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. But Naomi Broady was eliminated by Jil Teichmann, the world No153, 6-4, 6-2. Broady will now move on to the grass courts of the Aegon Surbiton Trophy.