By Chris Oddo | Monday July 3, 2017
Petra Kvitova proved to be too much for Sweden's Johanna Larsson on Centre Court on Wimbledon's Day 1.
Photo Source: David Ramos/Getty
The plan is coming together for Petra Kvitova. The Czech had visions of Wimbledon in her mind when she first picked up a racquet this year, months after a horrific interlude with a knife-wielding burglar led to a four-hour surgery on her left hand.
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Repaired and reinvigorated, Kvitova is rounding into form and riding the support of her many British fans this week at the All-England Club. Many of them no doubt have come to know Kvitova through her Wimbledon exploits. The 2011 and 2014 champion has wowed with regularity on the grass at SW19, and today the Centre Court crowd was more than eager to help her over the finish line as she rolled to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Johanna Larsson of Sweden.
“It was very special, I have to say,” Kvitova told reporters after the match. “When we came on the court, I know British crowd, but today I feel a little bit different. I mean, they scream a little bit more than they normally do. It was very special for me to feel the energy from the crowd again. So it was beautiful to be back on the court playing my game, on the beautiful Centre Court, of course. I couldn't wish [for] more.”
Kvitova improved to 30-7 lifetime at Wimbledon behind 31 winners, 7 aces and 4 of 6 break points won. She’ll face American Madison Brengle in the second round.
The Czech is playing her third event since making her return and has now won six consecutive matches on grass beginning with her title run at Birmingham two weeks ago.
It’s clearly all gravy now for Kvitova. Six months ago she had her life threatened by a complete stranger. Today she is the oddsmaker’s favorite to win Wimbledon. But she’s not of the mind to be affected by such talk.
“I'm still underground,” she said. “Just play what I can.”
Kvitova, who had the surgeon (Dr. Radek Kebrle) who repaired her hand in her player’s box today, even has difficulty performing the time-honored art of fist-pumping due to the condition of her left hand after the surgery. She doesn’t mind.
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“I don't care where I am [with regard to her ability to fist-pump].” She said. “I'm here. I couldn't still do by my left, but that's okay. I'm using it sometimes. But then I realize every time that I couldn't do it. It's weird. But I can get used to this.”