I look at life a little differently now, says Kvitova

Petra Kvitova said her Melbourne heroics have given her the confidence to play attacking tennis.

Petra Kvitova has learned to put things into perspective. Having gone through a horrid time off the court, dealing with major surgeries on her left hand - her playing hand - following an attack on her by knife-wielding robbers in December 2016, the two-time Wimbledon champion made a fairy tale return to the top level, winning five WTA titles last year before losing an epic Australian Open final to Naomi Osaka.
Many thought she would never pick up a racquet again. She thought she could have lost her life that night.
And now her comeback has become the most inspiring tennis story in recent years.
But Kvitova refuses to get carried away.
"I do see life a little differently now. I know how close you are to something that you can really lose. It was just about a few moments," she said on the opening day of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
"I do look little bit differently at everything. I'm not really stressing about some small things. I'm really enjoying the life and the time right now. That's the good one."
The 28-year-old Czech player said she didn't really have the time to reflect on her run to the final in Melbourne.
"Everything was so quick. I just went home. I got my visa to Russia, then flew next day to the St. Pete, then to Monte-Carlo, was at home for a week. That's the preparation for Dubai," she said.
"I didn't really have the time to think too much. I was really in a circle. I really had to do a lot of things. Of course, the pain from the whole thing (losing the final) is gone."
Her Melbourne heroics have given her the confidence to play attacking tennis.
"I think I wasn't really scared of going for the aggressive game plan, for the winners," she said.
Remarkably, Kvitova won the Dubai title in 2013 without a coach by her side.
"I do remember that I was here alone, without my coach, without anyone actually. That probably is the strongest memory I have from the tournament," she said.
Kvitova then showered Osaka, who became the youngest woman since Martina Hingis to win back-to-back Slams, with praise.
"It's a big deal for sure. I mean, it's really a great achievement," she said.
"She really deserves it with two wins at the tournaments. She's pretty young still. She is really playing great."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com