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Recovering from illness, Petra Kvitova looking to home crowds for “priceless” energy this week

The unseeded 32-year-old is the local favorite in Ostrava, the Czech town not far from her home and the site of this week's AGEL Open.

ByKamakshi Tandon

Published Oct 06, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS: P. Kvitova def. P. Badosa; Ostrava 2R

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WATCH: Home hope Petra Kvitova (CZE) defeats Paula Badosa (ESP) in the 2022 Ostrava Open second round match highlights.

Recovering from a cold, Petra Kvitova is looking to the fans for energy this week as she plays the AGEL Open in Ostrava.

The 32-year-old is the local favorite in the Czech town not far from her home, where she's been staying this week. But Kvitova didn't know until a few days before whether she would be able to play, and has won her first two rounds still under the weather from her illness.

She says the home crowds have spurred her, especially during a tight, two-hour, two-set 7-6 (4), 6-4 defeat of Paula Badosa to reach the quarterfinals.

"Playing three sets... probably wouldn't have been very good in my condition," Kvitova told press. "I didn't have much strength left.”

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When you’re too tired to celebrate.

What a great battle @paulabadosa 🙏 pic.twitter.com/kc3s2FuF6X
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) October 5, 2022

"It's not ideal. Not for the body, or even for tennis. But... hearing the fans. It's something priceless,” Kvitova added. "The atmosphere was great on Monday, and [Wednesday] even better."

The two-time Slam champion has at least been playing every other day, which has helped.

"Every minute off is good," she said. "I didn't come to the courts at all [on the day off] and probably will not again tomorrow, so I can rest and recover a little."

The good news for Kvitova is that she appears to have fully recovered from a recent wrist injury, as she told local press coming into the tournament.

The former world No. 2 is currently No. 20 on the WTA Tour. Unseeded at the 500-level Ostrava, Kvitova will take on Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals.

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