The Australian Open 2019 women’s event concluded with the “feel-good final” between Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova. Yet an underrated highlight came four nights earlier.
Kvitova had just overwhelmed Ash Barty with a brilliant night-time display of first-strike tennis to record her best result at Slam in almost five years, and wandered back to the centre of Rod Laver Arena for a chat with Jim Courier.
After a few standard-issue tennis questions, Courier deviated.
“You’re back into the semifinals of a major. It’s the first time since you won at Wimbledon in 2014. A lot’s happened in your life, it’s great to have you back on tour. You’ve faced your challenges. Did you ever doubt? Did you ever lose belief that you would be back in this moment?”
Before she could answer, the knowledgeable crowd broke into sustained applause, which grew in volume as Kvitova wept.
She composed herself, thanked them, and replied: “No, really. I didn’t really imagine to be back on this great stadium and play with the best. And it’s great.”
“Fortunate to be alive”
Those challenges Kvitova faced were horrifying.
In December 2016, Kvitova was confronted by an intruder who entered her Prostejov apartment armed with a knife. In the ensuing struggle, Kvitova fended the knife off with her left playing hand, which required intricate surgery to repair the lacerated tendons and nerves of her fingers.
As well as the lengthy physical rehabilitation, there was significant mental trauma to overcome – including the possibility she might never play tennis again.
“I am shaken, but fortunate to be alive,” she said. “While what happened to me was very scary, I do not see myself as a victim. I do not feel sorry for myself and I will not look backwards.
“I will use all my energy to focus on my recovery and I will do everything I can to return to the sport I love as soon as possible.”
Comeback to tennis
She did return. And her results were truly remarkable.
Within six months of her surgery she reappeared at Roland Garros, completing an emotional first-round victory over Julia Boserup. In her very next event, one month later in Birmingham, she won the title.
“I think it's kind of a fairytale,” said Kvitova, who went on to reach the 2017 US Open quarterfinals and semis in Beijing.
In 2018 she attained an even more impressive level; after the Australian Open she built a 14-match winning streak which took in titles in St Petersburg and Doha – the latter vaulting her back inside the top 10.
She would go on to win three more trophies – Prague and Madrid before defending her title in Birmingham – and ended the season at world No.7 after beginning it ranked 29th.
Yet Kvitova was not replicating this tour-level success at the majors. She failed to pass the third round at any in 2018, falling in the first round at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Australian Open 2019
All that changed when she returned to Melbourne Park in 2019.
Fresh off the Sydney International title, she romped through the draw, dropping no more than five games in any of her matches – including that quarterfinal victory over Barty. She then beat Danielle Collins 7-6(2) 6-0 in the semifinals, arriving in the final having dropped just 28 games in her six wins while not conceding a single set, and riding an 11-match win streak.
Although Osaka prevailed in the final, Kvitova contributed to the epic when she saved three match points in the second set and extended the drama for two hours and 27 minutes before finally succumbing 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4.
“It’s crazy. I can’t really believe that I just played final of the Grand Slam again,” Kvitova said. “We didn’t know if I would (be) able to hold the racquet again.”
With that result, Kvitova returned to world No.2 – her highest ranking since 2015.
And 2020 brought more success, with a quarterfinal at the Australian Open, final in Doha and semifinal at Roland Garros securing her eighth top-10 finish in the past 10 seasons.
The sport is richer for having her back, and thriving.