Wimbledon: Petra Kvitova douses fitness concerns ahead of championship defence
Reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has played down fitness fears ahead of her title defence after the onset of illness forced her to withdraw from last week’s Aegon International in Eastbourne.
Second seed Kvitova will start the quest to retain her SW19 crown against Holland’s Kiki Bertens tomorrow, having not played a competitive match since her fourth-round exit at the French Open earlier this month.
The Czech 25-year-old, who also won Wimbledon in 2011, arrived at the All England Club without any exposure to grass-court tennis this season, but is confident of shaking off any lingering symptoms ahead of her championship opener.
“I’m getting better. Every day is better so I hope on Tuesday I will be in good form,” said Kvitova.
“Of course, the preparation, because I got sick, wasn’t perfect. But that is how it is.”