Kvitova: Great to know I can play here

 

Originally published on: 15/08/12 00:00

The 2011 Wimbledon champion suffers from asthma and in the past has struggled in the United States and Canada at this time of the year. 

“It's only in America, unfortunately, because it's more humid than in Europe or Australia, where it's very hot but not that humid,” Kvitova said. “I think the humidity is the main problem for me, but I have an inhaler so I'm trying to protect it.”

She added: “I think that it's really good for me to know that I can play here. During the whole week the humidity wasn't too bad, because I have had trouble with my breathing in the past. Maybe I was just lucky, but I think it's great to know that I can play here.”

Kvitova, who had managed only two main-draw wins in her four previous visits to Montreal, plays this week in the Western and Southern Open at Cincinnati, where she has had a similar lack of success in the past. At the US Open she has never gone beyond the fourth round and fell at the first hurdle last year.

The win in Montreal ended a barren run for Kvitova, who until last week had not gone beyond the semi-finals of any other tournament this year. It was the first final she has ever reached in North America and the win took her back into the world’s top five.

The week will also have helped to renew the 22-year-old Czech’s confidence against her main rivals. Having lost all five of her previous matches this year against top 10 opposition, she posted victories in Montreal over both Caroline Wozniacki (world No.8) and Marion Bartoli (world No.10).

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