Petra Kvitová: The Czech Tennis Star’s Journey to Success
In April 2013, a 21-year-old rising Czech tennis star from Louny was ranked 81st in the world. Since then, she has never fallen out of the top ranks of the tennis world.
On the contrary, she climbed to the highest position, becoming a stable Top 10 player and reaching two Grand Slam finals. Even after almost 11 years, she still aims to reduce the number 78 next to her name.
„I would like to return to the top 30 or even the top 20. Not that the ranking is my main goal, but I want to avoid playing against the best players in the first rounds of tournaments,“ revealed Kvitová in an interview with Romanian newspapers at the current tournament in Cluj.
At 31 years old, she has already achieved a lot, but her motivation to continue is still strong. She still hasn’t won her dream Grand Slam.
„That will be my goal until I end my career. This year, however, I would like to win a tournament. Who knows, maybe there is a bigger chance here in Cluj,“ said the Czech tennis player.
In Cluj, she is currently not seeded, even though it is a 250-level tournament. Additionally, she entered her first match against Austrian Sinja Krausova with a bandaged left wrist.
„At my age, I have gotten used to the fact that it will never be 100%. Now I’m okay and can play. It’s difficult to compete with players who are ten years younger. It’s incomparable. But it doesn’t mean I can’t beat them,“ she explained.
From time to time, someone reminds her that she should already be thinking about starting a family. After all, her twin sister Kristýna has been a mother for a year and a half.
„And when I see her, being a mother is definitely not an easy matter. I’d rather keep playing for a while and postpone these plans. I still enjoy playing, and it pays off to try. The tennis peak is always open; any player can beat anyone,“ Plíšková said, not losing faith.
Romanian newspapers were interested in the fact that the native of Louny has seven more Czech players ahead of her in the rankings. They asked if there is such a thing as the Czech tennis school.
„I don’t think so. It’s not about one coach or one club. We have excellent infrastructure for tennis, no doubt about it, but it will probably depend a lot on the people. We have a strong foundation in families; we are stubborn, sometimes unnecessarily negative, but it works,“ the player admitted.
According to her, Czech players are never satisfied, and this helps them push their limits. „In the Czech Republic, when a female tennis player loses in the final of a tournament, she is immediately referred to as a loser. We are never satisfied, even though it is actually a great result. But maybe it’s that characteristic that forces us to keep working on ourselves,“ she added.
In the round of 16 at the Romanian tournament, she will face another member of her generation. On Thursday evening, she will play against 22-year-old Colombian Camila Osorio.
