Kvitova attack heightens players' concerns over safety

MELBOURNE — When a tragic incident strikes someone in a close-knit circle it’s only natural that others within that community display heightened concern about their own safety.

That’s exactly what happened when news circulated last month that two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova’s left hand was seriously injured when she fended off a knife-wielding intruder in her Prostejov, Czech Republic apartment.

The 26-year-old Kvitova, who underwent immediate surgery to repair damaged tendons in her playing left hand, as well as to all five fingers and a nerve, is said to be progressing well through recovery. Nevertheless, it is expected she’s been robbed of at least six months of her career, including having to miss this Australian Open.

The assailant, who posed as a worker sent to check on a utility in her apartment, remains at-large.

“It’s one of those things that sort of comes into your mind from time to time,” admitted Sir Andy Murray, the world No. 1 and only the second tennis player to ever be knighted. “Obviously when you hear about what happened with Petra, it's shocking. It's fairly rare, but shocking nonetheless.

“You do think sometimes when you're traveling you just have thoughts that something may be happening sometimes when you're in large groups of people,” Murray added. “Yeah, you can get a little bit anxious from time to time. You just have to try to continue living your life as is. It’s definitely been a tough few years. A lot of problems all over the world. So, yeah, you got to keep your wits about you."

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One player who takes extra precautions is Kvitova’s former boyfriend, Radek Stepanek. The 38-year-old, who qualified into this year’s Australian Open, lives in gated communities in Prague and Bradenton, Fla.

Stepanek was in Florida training when Kvitova was attacked, but was constantly kept abreast of how her surgery was going by phone. He went to see her the same day he returned to the Czech Republic for the Christmas holiday and said he saw glimmers of her typical fighting spirit.

“I just pray and hope that her hand is going to get back to normal and we’re going to see her back on the tennis court,” Stepanek said. ”But the most important thing is the mental part of it. I think everybody, the whole country, is going to help her as much as they can that she can feel safe again.

“But there is one thing that you show to people and there’s another thing when you close the door of your home,” he added. “I think for her now, it’s going to be difficult to spend time alone. I think it’s going to help if police can catch the guy who did it, mentally it would be better for her.”

Fellow Czech Jiri Vesely lives close to Kvitova in the Moravian town and admits he was on edge after hearing the news.

“It is unusual,” Vesely said. “People there are nice, a 50,000 people town, so it’s not like something big is going on there — except for tennis. The days after it happened really felt scary because you never know what could happen. You didn’t know if it was just unlucky or someone was going after players — sportsmen —- you never know. It was really a hard time, especially for her, of course.”

Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki prefers to take a pragmatic approach to safety with the notion you can’t stop living your life.

“I try and not think about it too much and not worry about it,” Wozniacki said. “But, yeah, it depends on the situation. I live in a gated area (in Monaco), so that obviously helps and makes me feel safe. But you never know the time or the place. It could be anywhere. At the end of the day, I think you just have to take every day as it goes.”

Australian Open defending champion Novak Djokovic has a similar outlook on the topic to Wozniacki, his Monaco neighbor.

“I'm cautious, but on the other side, I don't think too much about the fear, about the negative influence about the danger of the world,” Djokovic told the Serbian media. “I try to live my life, organize my life on the positive side. A person can always find a negative context in life, but my attention is not focused on that.”

Fellow Czech Barbora Strycova’s comments showcase how despite the international lifestyle players live, in many respects they exist inside a sheltered bubble and therefore remain wide-eyed innocents.

“I would’ve let him in, also,” said Strycova, looking nervous as she acknowledged she could’ve been a victim as well. “Yeah. I mean, what can you do? We are not home often, so we don't know so much about these things.

“I guess you have to watch out, because in this world, you never know what's gonna happen,” she said. “Unfortunately, this happens to a person. She was very unlucky in that day.”

Kvitova’s absence at this Australian Open is noticeable as she would’ve been the 11th seed. All that can be hoped for now is that when the 2018 Australian Open rolls around next January, Kvitova will be here serving up aces.

“She's strong and she will be back,” said Strycova, confidently.

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