Former champ Kvitova back in the groove

NEW HAVEN — Watching Petra Kvitova paint the lines with winners and keep Agnieszka Radwanska on the defensive with her booming serve, it wasn’t evident that her career was in question not long ago.

Kvitova, who has overcome plenty of adversity in her career, was in top form at a venue she always enjoys visiting — the Connecticut Tennis Center.

A three-time Connecticut Open champion, the thirdseeded Kvitova began her journey toward a fourth New Haven title by posting an impressive 6-1, 7-6 (3) win over Radwanska of Poland in the tournament’s opening round on Monday night.

The 28-year-old lefty from Czech Republic who is the WTA’s fifth-ranked player, advanced to the Round of 16, where she will play qualifier Zarina Diyas from Kazakhstan Wednesday.

Kvitova survived a home invasion in 2016 in which she was attacked by a deranged intruder with a knife. The attack resulted in severe injuries and cuts on her dominant left hand.

Yet she’s come back in a big way. Entering the Connecticut Open, Kvitova had won a WTA-best five titles this year, bringing her career victory total to 25 (fifth among active players).

Monday’s match between Kvitova and Radwanska marked the 13th time the longtime friends met in their respective careers. Kvitova, who has defeated Radwanska eight times, fell to Radwanska in the 2016 Connecticut Open semifinals.

“I knew it would be a tough first-round match,” Kvitova said. “I saw the field and saw how tough it is. I knew this was going to be a very competitive tournament.”

In the tiebreaker, Kvitova won the first three points, the third of which was the result of a powerful forehand winner. An ace and a winner pulled Radwanska to within 3-2, but Kvitova gathered herself, closing the match out with a forehand winner and a cross-court forehand winner.

Currently holding a record of 43-10 on the season, Kvitova used her strong serve to her advantage as the match progressed.

“Luckily, I found my rhythm in the second set and tiebreaker,” she said. “My serve got better during the match and I was able to step it up.”

Radwanska, the 2016 Connecticut Open champion, rebounded from a shaky first set by cutting down on her errors and displaying an effective serve.

“This is a great venue that I always enjoy playing at,” Kvitova said. “I’ve been a champion three times here, so it’s a special place for me.”