The Wimbledon champion comes to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships planning to win back the title that she relinquished last year to Venus Williams.
Gulf sunshine
The Czech left-hander, who won her second grand slam title last summer at Wimbledon, holidayed in Dubai this winter ahead of the new season. The Arabian Gulf sunshine seems to have done some good as she reached the Shenzhen semi-finals in China and then lifted the 15th trophy of her career in Sydney. At the Australian Open, she was beaten by in-form Madison Keys in the third round.
Wimbledon wonder
Kvitova has special memories of winning Wimbledon the second time around — she also triumphed in 2011. “The first time I won Wimbledon I didn’t really celebrate because everything just happened so quickly,” she said. “[This time] on Sunday, I had a fun day shopping in London and bought myself some earrings as a special present, and then it was time to get ready for the Wimbledon ball. The ball was at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and it was such a beautiful location. I was a bit nervous about doing the speech in front of everyone but it went well.”
Handy Dubai
The Czech enjoys the way the Dubai tournament is set up. “The crowd and the atmosphere here is very nice,” she said. “I’m enjoying every moment on the centre court and on the tournament, sure. The hotel, it’s pretty close and it’s so easy. When I played at 7pm, at 5.30pm I was still in the room and lying in the bed so that was really nice. I think that’s very helpful and that’s great.”
Fast forward
But, with three opening match defeats in her previous four outings at the tournament, she knows she has to do better this time. “A first round here is like playing the quarter-finals of other tournaments,” she said. “If you are not 100 per cent it will be difficult.”
Ladies first
Competing with Kvitova in Dubai will be the Williams sisters, Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska. The women’s tournament runs from February 15 to 21.
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