Kvitova unsure if she’ll be GS winner again

PETRA KVITOVA admitted yesterday that she might never be a Grand Slam champion again after losing a three-set thriller to Venus Williams at the US Open.

It was just Kvitova’s eighth tournament back following a fivemonth absence to recover from potentially career-ending injuries to her left playing hand sustained in fighting off a knife-wielding burglar at her Czech home in December.

“I’m glad that I am still able to compete on the high level against the top players,” said Kvitova, the 2011 and 2014 Wimbledon champion.

“I’m not sure about the titles of the Grand Slams. Of course that’s why I’m playing tennis, and that’s why I wanted to be back and playing, and is a big motivation.

“But I’m still on the earth, and I know it’s still a lot of work. This was a quarterfinal, but I know how tough it is to get a title for a Grand Slam. It was pretty close but pretty far, as well.”

Yesterday’s performance was vintage Kvitova – 35 winners canceled out by 45 unforced errors.

Nine double faults, one of which handed back a break when she led 3-1 in the decider, rubbed shoulders with saving eight of 11 break points in an impressive display of defense.

Kvitova returned to the tour in May at the French Open, where she made the second round while she also reached the same stage at Wimbledon. “Overall, I think it’s amazing. I didn’t really think that I can come so far,” she said.

“I’m just glad that I could show it here, that there is a way to play well again. So from my side, in a couple of days I hope that I will say, Good job. But not just now.”

Kvitova is backing Williams to capture a third title in New York. – AFP