Kvitova: ‘It will be good revenge’

Written by: Staff on 16th April 2012

Kvitova: 'It will be good revenge'

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns a shot during a match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during her fourth round women's singles match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2012. EPA/AHMAD YUSNI |

Petra Kvitova is out for revenge this weekend as her Czech Republic side face Italy in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal.

“It will be good revenge,” the Czech No.1 remarked when asked about the tie. “Last time when played against them we lost 5-0, so it wasn’t really a good result and we have bad memories from this.”

That tie was the 2010 semifinal where Kvitova played in the decisive third rubber against Flavia Pennetta, losing 76(3) 62 as Czech Republic failed to win even a set on the clay in Rome.

The Wimbledon champion is determined that the result will be different this time around and playing in Ostrava, a town now well used to the drama of hosting its nations tennis teams, is just a 20 minute car ride from her birthplace of Bilovec.

“I will have a lot of fans there… For Davis Cup [the CEZ Arena] is always full and now we are playing Fed Cup there, we hope it will be full again.”

This will also be the first home tie for the Czech’s in over two years, a period during which they have gone on to win the Fed Cup title, so this provides the team with a chance for a glorious homecoming and with the promise for more success against an Italian team who’s stars have found the going a little difficult in recent months.

The popular 22-year-old, however, also suffered on the American hard courts during Spring under the weight of injury but returns to the court with a streak of 27 consecutive wins indoors and has also won her last eight Fed Cup rubbers.

Ten ties are taking place this weekend alongside the Americas Zone Group II and Europe/Africa Zone Group III week-long events. Czech Republic face Italy in Ostrava while Serbia and Russia meet in Moscow in the two semifinals. There are four World Group play-offs and four World Group II play-offs happening to decide who will play in which Group next year.