As a two-time winner at the All England Club, Petra Kvitova usually comes to The Championships with lots of pressure on her shoulders to perform well.
It’s something that has probably played a part in the fact that the Czech star has not made it past the third round at Wimbledon, since she lifted her second title in 2014.
This year might be different though for Kvitova, who enters the tournament with limited expectations having not played since Rome in May due to a left forearm injury that forced her to withdraw from Roland-Garros.
Kvitova was uncertain whether she’d be able to play Wimbledon, and admits she hasn’t been practising fully. But the 29-year-old told reporters on Saturday that barring anything dramatic happening, she will be ready to take the court on Tuesday for her opening round against Tunisian Ons Jabeur.
“I had a few tests during this period. It's improved, but not as much as I wanted,” Kvitova revealed.
“So I have to be really very careful with everything. I just couldn't do anything for a couple of weeks. I was very pleased when I could do something very easy with my left hand, like drinking or something like that. It was kind of back to two years ago. If I have a pain, I'm stopping immediately, but so far it's OK.”
Kvitova, who picked up a racket again just a few days ago, was referring to the horrific attack she survived from a knife-wielding intruder at her apartment in the Czech Republic in December 2016 that saw her stabbed in her left playing hand.
She had surgery to repair damage in her fingers and returned to action six months later at Roland-Garros in 2017. Since then, Kvitova has picked up eight titles, has made the final of the Australian Open this year, and has risen back to No.2 in the world (she is No.6 this week).
Had it not been for her recent forearm issue, Kvitova would have been considered one of the favourites for the Wimbledon title. But her physical problems mean she is approaching the Championships with a different mentality, unsure how well she’d be able to perform.
“Maybe it's a good one then,” she says of having no expectations. “It’s just totally the forehand. I just hit for the first time today maybe little bit more than normal, and was OK. But, of course, my expectations are not really high. Maybe this can help me, as well, to be more relaxed on the court.
“But you know me. Sometimes when I go there and play, the expectations come, suddenly I cannot put the ball in. We'll see how everything will go. Like now, of course, I'm relaxed. I'm not really happy that I didn't have my best preparation what I could have for the grass season.
“I think from the past I learn a lot about me. Sometimes I don't really have to hit for so many hours to be prepared.”
Kvitova’s first round opponent, Jabeur, is also dealing with an injury. She rolled her ankle towards the end of her Eastbourne quarter-final against Alize Cornet on Thursday and had to withdraw ahead of her semi-final against Angelique Kerber.
Sometimes when I go there and play, the expectations come, suddenly I cannot put the ball in
“I never played her, I never practised with her, but of course I need to be ready for that because she’s been playing very nicely in Eastbourne where she reached the semi-finals. I know that she has probably some troubles with her health, but it doesn’t really matter, everybody is ready for a Grand Slam,” said Kvitova of the crafty Jabeur, who is No.62 in the world.
“I know that she mixes up the game a bit, and probably she likes grass as well, so definitely it’s not an easy opponent for the first round.
“I spoke with her before, she’s a pretty open and friendly person, so it’s nice to have someone like her in the locker room.”
Jabeur is racing time to be ready for her clash with Kvitova. The 24-year-old, who is the highest ranked Arab woman in tennis history, is keen to take on the challenge of facing someone like Kvitova on the hallowed lawns of Wimbledon.
“I like this kind of draw. It’s a challenge for me playing big players like Petra who I actually respect so much,” Jabeur told wimbledon.com.
“I hope I can be ready to play and recover fast . I am very optimistic so fingers crossed. I will play my game, enjoy every point and try to show my game even more here in Wimbledon.”