MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Twice former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova stated she was unsurprised at bowing out of the Australian Open within the opening spherical on Tuesday after a troublesome month Down Under.
The 2019 Australian Open finalist was ousted by Sorana Cirstea for the second successive yr at Melbourne Park, the Romanian veteran easing to a 6-2 6-2 victory on John Cain Arena.
“I do not suppose I’ve a lot to say,” stated Kvitova. “It wasn’t actually going my manner the entire month. That’s how it’s. It’s a sport and I simply must struggle by means of and be higher at it.”
The twentieth seed, who misplaced to Naomi Osaka within the remaining three years in the past, entered two warm-up tournaments however ended up taking part in solely three matches after early exits in Adelaide and Sydney.
“I did not play a variety of matches at first of this yr,” she added.
“I did have some well being points the entire month as effectively, so it was powerful to apply. It wasn’t very easy this starting of the season, however the season is lengthy, so I hope that it’s going to turnaround.”
The 31-year-old Czech opened her 2022 marketing campaign with a surprising loss to Australian world quantity 221 Priscilla Hon within the first spherical of the Adelaide International.
She moved on to the Sydney Tennis Classic and survived a scare to get her first win of the yr in opposition to Arantxa Rus earlier than exiting the event within the second by the hands of Ons Jabeur.
Kvitova stated she would take just a few days to “see clearly” after which deal with getting as many matches as she might beneath her belt and hopefully kick-starting her season.
“This loss could be very painful, within the first spherical after like a complete month,” she stated.
“Yeah, on one hand, I’m not stunned actually how the whole lot ended. But then again, in fact, after I play a match I all the time wish to win.”
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
