Dubai: Petra Kvitova will have a second title in her sights when she competes next week in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The 2013 Dubai champion enjoyed yet another successful season in 2015, although it was interrupted by a period in which she made the decision to take a break from the game due to exhaustion. That came shortly after her third round loss in Dubai and meant she missed the events at Indian Wells and Miami. However, she was soon able to bounce back to her usual winning ways.
Having already won the Sydney title, she went on to also win in Madrid and New Haven, and with a semi-final in Shenzhen and three quarter-finals including the US Open, she qualified for the WTA Finals in Singapore. Not only did she qualify for the elite eight-player event, but she went all the way to the final before falling to Agnieszka Radwanska. Then to round off a satisfying season she played a part in the Czech Republic defeating Russia to claim the Fed Cup trophy.
As well as being a champion in Dubai, the Czech national has twice lifted the winner’s trophy at the All England club. Her first Wimbledon victory came in 2011 and she followed up with another run to the title in 2014. So what happens to a Wimbledon champion when the match is over, the photos have been taken and the media have finished asking their questions?
“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,” she said. “They bring in a stylist and the dressing room downstairs at the All England Club is full of dresses to choose from. I picked a classic black and white ball gown and then had my hair and make-up done. It was so much fun to have a girly day.
“The ball was at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and it was such a beautiful location. I went with all my team and it was so nice to see them dressed in black tie with big smiles on their faces. I was a bit nervous about doing the speech in front of everyone but it went pretty well and I think I did a good job with my English. If I had to choose between a third Wimbledon title and the number one ranking, I would choose Wimbledon!”
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, said: “Petra Kvitova was a very worthy winner both at Wimbledon and at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she had to overcome such accomplished opponents as Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki and the defending champion that year, Agnieszka Radwanska, as well as an inspired Sara Errani.
“She has continued to excite her many fans both in Dubai and around the world and she is a strong contender for the title wherever she plays. We wish her well in her quest for a second title here.”
Kvitova has made a slow start to the 2016 season with a first round loss in Shenzhen and a second round setback at the Australian Open, but that has made her all the more determined to make an impression once more at one of her favourite tournaments.
“The crowd and the atmosphere are very nice,” she said. “I’m enjoying every moment on the centre court and at the tournament. The hotel, it’s pretty close and it’s so easy. When I’ve played at 7pm I was until 5.30pm in the room and lying in the bed so that was really nice. It was just two minutes to on-site. I think that’s very helpful and that’s great. The organisation, everything is easy. The girls at the organisation desk are so nice. Everything is great.”
She is part of one of the toughest fields ever to contest the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and competition for the title will be stronger than ever.
“Four of the world’s top five and all but six of the world’s top 20 will be bidding to become the winner,” said Tournament Director Salah Tahlak. “With so many talented players all equally intent on making the title their own, whoever emerges as the champion will certainly have earned their reward. Although we cannot predict who the winner will be, we can guarantee that Dubai tennis fans will be able to enjoy plenty of exciting matches from the first day right through to the final.”
Play in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships begins with the WTA event, which takes place between February 15 and 20 and also features world number one Serena Williams, 2015 Champion Simona Halep, Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza, former world number ones Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic, and top teenager Belinda Bencic. Play then continues between February 22 and 27 with the action-packed ATP tournament featuring four-time champion Novak Djokovic, Australian and French Open winner Stan Wawrinka, two-time Dubai finalist Tomas Berdych and charismatic Australian Nick Kyrgios
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, and held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
