Petra Kvitova comes into the Nature Valley Classic with a successful clay season under her belt, which has made a huge difference going into the most important part of the season for her–on the grass. In that clay season, she won 13 matches in a row and picked up titles in Madrid and at home in Prague, but is looking ahead to the defence of her title in Birmingham. The two-time Wimbledon champion talked through what she had been getting up to in the break following a shock loss at the French Open to Anett Kontaveit.
“I started with a little bit of fitness but not really tennis I needed some days without tennis, because I think I was overplayed. So I just needed a little bit of time-out and just to be ready and enjoy the passion for the tennis, which I do have now, which is important. Then I started to practice again, well, nothing really new, right? (laughs). It was a good and tough clay season for me. I really exhausted a little bit physically and mentally as well, so I needed a little bit of break to be ready for the grass, because otherwise if I’m not really enjoying the tennis, its’ really tough to play then, so being on the grass and not enjoying the tennis would be very interesting.”
I asked Kvitova whether that run on the clay actually was beyond her wildest dreams and she totally agreed that those sequence of wins came as a big surprise to the Czech:
“Definitely, yes. I really couldn’t imagine myself winning two titles in a row on the clay. Especially home one and Premier one, so it was a huge win for me, for sure. It gave me a lot of confidence as well, playing well on the clay. I couldn’t really continue at the French Open, but it was a tough match and it was pretty close and it was a bit disappointing for me, but on the other hand it was a great clay season.
“Um, you know, I never really come in to a tournament thinking that I can win in straight away. I just need, like, some kind of matches to be ready physically and mentally and to be able to compete with the best. This time it is different compared to last time. Last time I was just really enjoying being on the grass, playing tennis, I couldn’t really wasn’t thinking about anything else, so it was just the pure happiness that I have. This time it is a little bit different, of course, the pressure is there. I played well so far this season as well, so of course the expectation is a little bit different, but I’m still thinking it is a good preparation for Wimby.”
When you cast your mind back to the Birmingham tournament last year it was a total surprise to the Czech that she could play at a high level so quickly into her comeback on the grass, but that week was vitally important for her as it confirmed in her mind that the elite level of tennis that she played at–before she fell victim a knife attack at home–was not that far away. Certainly not as far away as she would have anticipated at first.
“Yeah definitely, it was a good tournament to win, for sure, but it just gave something that I knew that I could compete and play again, which is probably the most important thing that I need to have to be, kind of, sure that I can play. And that is probably what the tournament showed me.”
The defending Birmingham champion has been dealt a tricky draw, playing last week’s Nottingham finalist Johanna Konta in the first round. Kvitova certainly recognises the strengths that the Brit brings to a grass court, having lost to her in Eastbourne in 2016. Kvitova discussed what she remembered from that match in her pre-tournament press conference.
“i can’t do anything with the draw anymore, but obviously Jo is a great player. I know probably she’s not in pretty great form as she was last year or year before, but she still is a great player and that probably will show tomorrow as well. It is a great first round for the tournament. She played great last week, so for sure she’s probably getting more used to grass than me, but we’ll see. It is a nice first round.”
“I wish I couldn’t remember anything, but I do remember some things. I do remember that she served pretty well, which I can’t do anything against. So I’m just gonna need to be focusing on myself and waiting for some chances if they come. I think she is really playing kind of good tactics, playing what she can from the baseline, she does not give any time to her opponents. Sometimes I feel like she can’t really miss.”
(Main Photo from Getty)
