Kvitova Takes New Sense Of Self Into Zhuhai Semifinals

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ZHUHAI, China – Asked what she would take with her from 2016, Petra Kvitova gave a sleepy smile.

“I would like to take myself,” she told WTA Insider after advancing into the semifinals of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.

“I think, somehow, I found myself this season. Maybe being without a coach was important to help me do that.”

Kvitova kicked off her season by splitting with David Kotyza, her coach of seven years. She turned around a tough year at the Olympic tennis event, winning a Bronze medal that foreshadowed a fantastic fall swing.

“I have so many great memories of the Olympics, not only from tennis, but also from getting to meet new friends, athletes, and people in the Village and Czech House. They’ll stay forever in my heart, and it was great to be part of it.

“I played good in the second half of the season without a coach. I think that’s very interesting. I think I’m more relaxed right now and that’s how I’ll also try to be next season.”

The two-time Wimbledon winner does plan to take on a new coach before the end of the off-season, having parted with Frantisek Cermak following the US Open. For Kvitova, chemistry is key.

“To be honest, it’s hasn’t been really easy,” she said of her search. “For me, personality is important. I’m probably a little bit of a different player; I just need someone who is relaxed, who knows how to have fun and has a similar sense of humor.

“He has to understand me, but he also has to be a good tennis coach. It’s really not easy to find someone like this, but I’m really looking hard. We’ll see; we still have a little bit of time. I need to find one soon!”

Kvitova is looking to form a bond much like the one she finds within the Czech Fed Cup team, which plays France in next week’s final.

“We’re not only good players, but also good people. We’re never fighting with each other; we act as a team, and I think that’s very important. None of us make trouble, and we all work well together.

.@Petra_Kvitova gets through to the #semifinals of 2016 #WTAEliteTrophy , tops #Strycova in 6-1,6-4!?✨??#PeonyGroup pic.twitter.com/FJzC9bQ2Bk

— WTA Elite Trophy (@WTAEliteTrophy) November 4, 2016

“For example, if one of us needs to schedule a massage, we talk all talk and decide who gets to go first; it’s the same with practice schedules. Communication is very important for a team.”

The four-time Fed Cup champion went head-to-head with teammate Barbora Strycova – winning, 6-1, 6-4 – on Friday, and next plays Chinese No.1 Zhang Shuai for a spot in the Zhuhai final.

“It’s never easy to play someone like Barbora; she’s a great player, and playing a teammate is always extra difficult – especially when we’re playing together next week.

“I came to China with the goal of qualifying for Zhuhai. It has been a kind of funny season for me; after a not so great first half, I started to play well. Having this tournament is great; with the Fed Cup final next week, I was happy to qualify and play more matches before that.

“It will be a nice end of the season.”