Kvitova eager to return to Elm City

Following an emotional return to the French Open in May, Petra Kvitova knew the very first WTA Tour event she wanted to commit to: the Connecticut Open.

“I feel great over there, I would be lying if I didn’t say it,” Kvitova said during a conference call on Monday. “I love the city, it feels a bit like home. The tournament is very calm and relaxing. For me, it’s a great place to be.”

It certainly doesn’t hurt that Kvitova has won in New Haven three times, most recently in 2015. Still, tournament director was “flattered” that Kvitova would commit to the event before any other.

“Every tournament in the world wanted her, offering her a wild card trying to recruit her,” Worcester said. “She absolutely knew she wanted to play here long before deciding where else she wanted to play. She really feels at home in New Haven.”

It’s been an incredibly trying year for Kvitova. Last December, she suffered severe lacerations to her left hand during an attack by a home intruder in her native Czech Republic. Doctors told her she may never be able to play again, but an intense rehab program and fierce determination not only to play but be dominant again had the two-time Wimbledon champ back at Roland Garros just six months later.

Kvitova, who can’t talk about details of the home attack due to an ongoing investigation, has labeled her return a “miracle.”

“The injury was very bad,” she said. “If one finger was not working, I’m probably not playing again. Unfortunately, all five fingers had to be operated on. There was a big percentage I couldn’t play. That’s why it’s a miracle. I’m glad it went well, because I really worked hard to come back and have my hand be OK again.”

Worcester kept in contact with Kvitova throughout her rehab, watching videos of her showing the slightest of improvements.

“It was baby steps, for so many months on end,” Worcester re-

called. “Yet she never, ever gave up. She stayed really positive. She surprised her team when she announced she wanted to come back not to Wimbledon, but for the French Open.”

Kvitova flew to Paris not even knowing if she was well enough to compete in the French. She wound up winning her first-round match, then losing in a close match in the second round.

“It’s just inspirational to anyone that’s had to overcome adversity in their life,” said Worcester.

Kvitova isn’t all the way back yet. She won the Aegon Classic in Birmingham in June, but admitted she didn’t feel great at Wimbledon, where she lost to unranked American Madison Brengle in the Round of 64.

Currently playing in Toronto, she won her opening match on Monday afternoon.

“I felt pretty good (Monday),” she said. “There are still a lot of things to improve. I’m not worried about my hand anymore. I don’t want to put any pressure on me, I just want to focus on my game and enjoy tennis. Because I found out how much I missed it before.”

Kvitova has no regrets about rushing back to play about a month earlier than expected.

“I didn’t want to be at home and practice, knowing I could play,” she said. “It was more for my mental health.”

And Kvitova didn’t want to just come back. She wants to be the same player who has won 20 WTA events.

“I didn’t want to come back just to compete,” she said. “I wanted to play well, at a high level. It will take time to get there.”

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