By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 29, 2016

 

"I know how difficult (the US Open) is. I think the air, the humidity, is not the best for me," says Petra Kvitova.

US Open/USTA

NEW YORK—The hustle and bustle of Manhattan can sometimes feel suffocating for Petra Kvitova.

This week, the two-time Wimbledon champion has found a green space of solitude in Central Park.

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"I really like our position where we are saying at the hotel, which is near Central Park," Kvitova said today. "It feels a little bit different compared to other places in Manhattan which is nice for sure. That you can breathe. I like shopping so that's good as well to be there.

"I just feel it's show time anywhere in Manhattan. It's just so busy everywhere. I think it's difficult to find a really quiet place, which is Central Park for us."

The 14th-seeded Czech's US Open opener wasn't exactly a stroll through the park.

On a muggy Monday, Kvitova kept calm converting five of 10 break points in a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Jelena Ostapenko, to reach the US Open second round for the seventh time.

The 36th-ranked Latvian had beaten Kvitova in both of their prior meetings this season. This time around, Ostapenko betrayed her own cause with 11 double faults as the powerful Czech pressured her second serve. Kvitova won 26 of 36 points played on Ostapenko's second serve.

"I knew that I had to return better, especially with her second serve, which I did today at the end of the match," Kvitova said. "I was a little bit struggling at the beginning. I was kind of tight and wasn't moving well. Tight, as I said, but then I relaxed. And I know she's hitting flat and fast and that's what I was trying to dominate it."

It's odd seeing the two-time Wimbledon winner outside the Top 10 and playing on Court 12, but that's the new reality for Kvitova, who has now slipped to No. 16 in the rankings—her lowest ranking since May, 2011.

However, Kvitova sometimes seems to operate better flying beneath the radar.

A year ago, the flat-hitting left-hander did not surrender a set en route to the Flushing Meadows quarterfinals—her best career US Open results—where she fell to eventual-champion Flavia Pennetta.

Kvitova suffers from asthma and breathing issues can be exacerbated in the thick, heavy air of New York. She concedes conditions are not quite as quick as she prefers making the Open a major challenge.

"Finally I break kind of the results here at the US Open," Kvitova said. "Before I didn't do as well. I don't know why. I feel the courts are not as fast as I probably wished to be. I made a great success last year and I hope that's not the end of course.

"I know how difficult it is. I think the air, the humidity, is not the best for me. Today, I played good and I didn't really have any troubles with that."

The 26-year-old Kvitova can exhale after her first-round victory. Kvitova, who faces Turkey's Cagla Buyukakcay next, resides in the favorable bottom section of the draw.

Despite a disappointing season in which she's failed to win a title and hasn't surpassed the third round of a major, the Olympic bronze medalist isn't looking at the Open as a way to salvage her season. Kvitova says her goals are simple.

"The goal for the end of the season is be healthy, don't be injured," Kvitova said. "I think that's really important right now. I did not have a great season so far I think I should be more relaxed and just play and just enjoy the tennis and maybe the results will come or no."