Push Admin

Tennis: Kvitova, Halep driven by Australian Open heartbreak

Article (news)

Sudipto Ganguly, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/01/19/petra.jpg"/><figcaption>Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic attends a practice session in Melbourne on January 16, 2020, ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, AFP.</figcaption></figure></div>MELBOURNE - Petra Kvitova took a while to come to terms with her heartbreaking defeat in last year&#x27;s Australian Open final but the Czech says she can now look back on the experience as one of the top achievements of her career.Kvitova was down a set and a break to Naomi Osaka and facing three match points when she fought back to level the final and force a decider before the two-time Wimbledon champion eventually fell 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4.&quot;It took me a while to get over the loss,&quot; she told reporters on Saturday. &quot;It&#x27;s been very painful for me to lose that final.&quot;However, the 29-year-old said she has managed to put her run to that final in context.Kvitova underwent nearly four hours of surgery on her playing hand in 2016 after being attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in the Czech Republic.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/tennis/news/2020/01/12/andreescu-withdraws-australian-open-knee-injury-64993">READ: Andreescu withdraws from Australian Open with knee injury</a></li></ul>&quot;After so many years being in the final, it&#x27;s a great achievement. I should take it very positively,&quot; said the seventh seed, who will open her campaign against compatriot Katerina Siniakova on Monday.&quot;Even now when I&#x27;m here, it&#x27;s really feeling very nice and I do have the best memories.&quot;World number four Simona Halep also endured the agony of a lost Australian Open final, going down in three sets to Caroline Wozniacki in 2018.She hopes having Australian coach Darren Cahill back in her corner will help her land a third Grand Slam title.&quot;I want it badly,&quot; said Halep, the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon champion. &quot;But it&#x27;s very difficult.&quot;Also the heat sometimes, sometimes it&#x27;s cold. The changes are not easy for me to adjust. The very humid atmosphere when I played the final, it was tough for me.&quot;Second seed Karolina Pliskova has a tricky opener against France&#x27;s Kristina Mladenovic, who beat Australian world number one Ash Barty in the Fed Cup in November.The Czech, however, is confident her fate will be in her own hands.&quot;I don&#x27;t know actually in which form she is right now,&quot; Pliskova said. &quot;I know it&#x27;s going to be a lot about me. Even if she&#x27;s playing great, I think I can still beat her.&quot;I know she can be dangerous. I&#x27;m sure it&#x27;s going to be difficult. For sure not an easy round.&quot; <div>(Editing by Peter Rutherford )</div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Petra Kvitova took a while to come to terms with her heartbreaking defeat in last year's Australian Open final.

Petra Kvitova took a while to come to terms with her heartbreaking defeat in last year's Australian Open final.

Tennis: Kvitova, Halep driven by Australian Open heartbreak

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Sports

Tennis: Kvitova, Halep driven by Australian Open heartbreak

Sudipto Ganguly,

Reuters

Published Jan 19, 2020 09:37 AM PHT

Read More:

tennis

Australian Open

Petra Kvitova

Simona Halep

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.