After a disappointing performance at Wimbledon, the always optimistic Petra Kvitova focused on the positives once again.
The Czech entered the grass-court grand slam as one of the title favourites. She had already won five trophies on the WTA Tour this season on three different surfaces – hard court, clay and grass. The most singles trophies won by a female player so far this year. Yet at Wimbledon, she crashed out in the first round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich in what was her worst performance at the tournament since 2009. Resulting in Kvitova taking a 10-day break from the sport.
“It was brilliant,” Kvitova said during media day at the Rogers Cup on Sunday. “I even had 10 days without tennis, without fitness, without anything. It was very important for my mind as well that I just shut off. I’ve played lots of tennis in the last couple of months. But now I get to get back on the tennis court, back to work.”
Kvitova will be hoping to return back to winning ways in Montreal this week where she is the eighth seed at the Rogers Cup. It will be her 10th appearance in the main draw of the tournament. The last time she won the Rogers Cup was back in 2012 after defeating Li Na in the final.
“It feels like it was a long time ago,” Kvitova commented about her 2012 triumph. “Six years is a lot actually. That day was just amazing. I do remember I was here alone, just me and my PR manager, no coaches, so it was a pretty free tournament for me. Obviously I played great tennis.
“Different things have happened in my life and in tennis since.”
With every player from the world’s top 10 set to play in Montreal, Kvitova is under no illusion about the tough task she faces. Should the draw go according to the seeds, she could play Karolina Pliskova in the third round followed by Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber. Although she is hoping to replicate the same success that she has enjoyed during the first six months of 2018.
“Consistency was always my problem in my season, in my game,” she explained. “I’ve never played a whole season well. I’m glad I played well the first half of this season. That’s what I’m trying to improve, my level of the game, to play a little bit higher all the time.”
It isn’t just the players that pose a threat. It is the climate tool. Temperatures are set to range between 25-30 degrees throughout the week with humidity expected to be a factor. A far from ideal situation for a player like Kvitova, who suffers from asthma.
“I’m really trying to do everything I can, especially improving my fitness. That’s probably what would be best for these kinds of conditions. But with my asthma, it’s tough to do something special. I have my inhaler, and sometimes I need to use it. Overall, I think when I’m feeling better physically, everything goes better.” She explained.
A title this week would reward Kvitova her third premier title of the season and tenth overall. Receiving a first round bye, she will open up her campaign against either Ekaterina Makarova or Anell Kontaveit.
