COURAGE
BELIEF
POJD!
Three words - the last being Czech for 'come on'- printed in bold capitals on a team t-shirt encapsulate the story of Petra Kvitova’s comeback from the horrific hand injury that cost her the first five months of 2017, and in which her biggest victory was simply returning to the court.
The dual Wimbledon champion can not be sure whether her racquet hand will ever again be fully functioning and completely pain-free following the shocking damage inflicted by the knife-wielding intruder posing as a Prostejov meter-reader just days before Christmas. But the tale of Kvitova’s return was one of the best of the subsequent tennis year - a 20th career title was secured almost immediately, while the elusive quest for consistency still has more chapters to come.
After 11 tournaments, the 27-year-old finished inside the top 30 from a June peak of 12th, while admitting that her surprise success on the Birmingham lawns probably came too soon. Expectations were inflated to the point that she arrived at the All England Club as the favourite - and not just the sentimental kind - to add another Venus Rosewater Dish to those from 2011 and 2014.
Then reality struck back, in the form of a second round loss to American Madison Brengle. Yet what was deflating at the time for the big-hitting leftie was also understandable: just being there was a triumph in itself, and one that defied medical predictions.
Significantly, it was the prospect of a Wimbledon reappearance had helped to drive Kvitova through her recovery and rehabilitation. The former world No.2 had asked her surgeon on the day following the four-hour operation to repair extensive nerve and tendon damage whether she would be ready to contest her favourite and best tournament. He was not optimistic.
But he was also in attendance at Roland Garros on the May afternoon when a threatened career officially resumed in emotional circumstances against Julia Boserup. After minimal practice, it was all about starting the process of getting everything ‘normal’ again, including talking about fears that continued to stalk her.
Kvitova is not yet back to where she was, but two victories over top 10 opponents were achieved by season’s end, while an epic quarterfinal clash with Venus Williams was a US Open standout and the Asian swing was highlighted by a semi in Beijing.
“Overall, I think it’s amazing,’’ Kvitova said in New York. “I didn’t really think that I can come so far. Was great to win in Birmingham, but I think it was pretty early that I put a little bit of pressure on me, and I just wanted to play better and better, which I wasn’t pretty ready for that. I’m just glad that I could show it here, that there is a way to play well again.’’
Now it is about doing it more often, but so many important steps have already been taken. “Nobody thought she’d come back to tennis so quickly,’’ said her good friend Caroline Garcia, who describes the Czech as ‘practically unbeatable’ at her best. “I think she’s getting even more pleasure out of being here and that her wins win even more to her.’’
The next chance at the top level is at the Australian Open, where a place in the last four in 2012 has been Kvitova’s best finish in eight attempts. She watched it last year from the Canary Islands, her hand in a splint, so much still uncertain.
But buoying her spirits was the abundant locker-room goodwill from almost 18,000km away, and the popular blonde has also been embraced with fondness and admiration by fans everywhere. Which is as it should be, as few people in women’s tennis are easier to like. A third Grand Slam triumph would be hailed as something very special indeed.