Petra Kvitova pulls out of 2021 French Open after freak accident

Petra Kvitova of Bilovec, Czech Republic has pulled out of the 2021 French Open. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday, the reason for the injury is because she had a freaky fall during her press conference on Sunday, and subsequently injured her ankle.

Kvitova, who is 31 years of age, is a two-time Wimbledon champion having won in 2011 and 2014. In the first round of the French Open on Sunday, Kvitova defeated Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen 6–7, 7–6, 6–1. The withdrawal of Kvitova came just a day after Naomi Osaka of Japan withdrew due to mental health issues. 

Kvitova was to play Elena Vesnina of Russia in the second round, but now Vesnina gets the bye to the third round. The second round match between Kvitova and Vesnina would have been the second most intriguing second round women’s singles match at the French Open, as Vesnina reached the semifinals in Wimbledon back in 2016.

The best second round women’s match at the French Open will take place on Thursday when Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic plays Sloane Stephens of the United States. Pliskova, ranked ninth in the world, reached the 2016 U.S. Open Final. Stephens meanwhile won the U.S. Open in 2017.

This is not the first time Kvitova had an injury off the court. In December of 2016, Kvitova had her apartment in the Czech Republic robbed. In an attempt to defend herself from the attacker who had a knife, Kvitova experienced multiple lacerations to her fingers and hand which required surgery. She was out for six months, and it is quite remarkable that she has been able to resume her tennis career. In 2020, the attacker was found guilty of the assault, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

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