Dressed for French Open, Kvitova wins all-Czech crown on return to action
Tennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action during her final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W Cerny
World number 12 Petra Kvitova returned to court dressed for the French Open but was happy to triumph in the women's draw at an all-Czech tournament on Thursday as the sports world starts to slowly return from the novel coronavirus shutdown.
The Prague tournament - played among the top Czech men's and women's players but without fans and with ball boys and girls wearing gloves and face masks - was one of the first after professional tennis was suspended in early March as the world went into lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.
More tournaments are planned elsewhere, while some exhibition events without fans have already been played in countries such as Germany and the United States.
Tennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova and Karolina Muchova are seen wearing masks after their final match, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W Cerny
With the French Open originally set to take place this week, Kvitova wore the clothing collection she had ready for the season's second Grand Slam.
"If there will be the French Open, then Nike has something else for me," Kvitova, twice Wimbledon champion, said.
"I played better every day, so that is very positive," she added on her return to action.
Tennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova in action during her final match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W Cerny
The Prague event was missing world number three Karolina Pliskova and last year's French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova.
That left Kvitova to take on Karolina Muchova, ranked 26th in the world, in the final where they tapped rackets instead of hands when the match ended.
Kvitova did not drop a set in the three-round tournament, beating Muchova 6-3 6-3 in a rain-delayed match at a tennis club in the Czech capital.
Tennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action during her final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W Cerny
Kvitova last played at the Qatar Open in February where she lost in the final to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Going into this week she had said finding rhythm and playing without fans would be the hardest part about returning.
In the men's draw, 20-year-old Michael Vrbensky beat Zdenek Kolar 6-4 6-7(5) 10-8. The 405th ranked Vrbensky had beaten top seed Jiri Vesely, ranked 65th, in the first round.
Tennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova celebrates winning her final match with the trophy against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W Cerny
(Reporting by Robert Muller; Writing by Jason Hovet; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Tennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova poses with Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova after winning their final match, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W CernyTennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action during her final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W CernyTennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova is seen wearing a mask after her final match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W CernyTennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova with Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova after winning their final match, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W CernyTennis - All-Czech Tennis Tournament - TK Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, May 28, 2020 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova celebrates winning her final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova, as play resumes, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/David W Cerny
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