Petra Kvitova not setting goals in comeback from maternity break

AUSTIN – Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she has been encouraged by the success of several new mothers on their return to the WTA Tour, but the Czech is tempering expectations ahead of her own comeback from maternity leave this week.

The former world No. 2, who turns 35 in March, gave birth to her son Petr last July and will return to the WTA Tour in Austin, Texas, before high-profile hard-court events in Indian Wells and Miami.

New mothers Elina Svitolina, 30, and Naomi Osaka, 27, have both returned to a high level after time away from the game, while Belinda Bencic, 27, won the Abu Dhabi title in February.

“Those girls are pretty young still, of course, I would say my age is different. But we’re used to working hard. Even after pregnancy and giving birth, we know what to do and we’re willing to do it,” Kvitova, with 31 career titles, told the WTA website.

“Belinda and I are in touch, and it’s nice she’s playing so well. Her daughter is like 2½ months older than our Petr... She just showed us that it’s possible, coming back after giving birth.”

Kvitova meets Briton Jodie Burrage on Feb 25 in her first match in 17 months – the result was unavailable at press time – and she said it felt like a big deal.

“Sometimes I’m surprised by myself. But I would have regretted it if I didn’t come back,” she said.

“I’m not putting any goals on myself, I’ll never play as good as I was playing when I was winning tournaments. I want to enjoy myself playing tennis and it’ll take time.”

In other news, men’s world No. 9 Andrey Rublev said talks with twice Grand Slam champion Marat Safin had helped him deal with his mental struggles.

The Russian has struggled to keep his emotions in check at times during matches and his outbursts have overshadowed his game, but the 27-year-old showed his best side with a run to the Doha title last week.

“I was lost with myself for a couple of years of not finding the way, not understanding what to do,” he said, adding that he took antidepressants for a year but stopped when they did not help him any more.

Things began to change last July after speaking with his compatriot Safin, who retired in 2009. The former world No. 1 was no stranger to outbursts, having broken dozens of rackets on court himself during his career. “He made me understand myself,” Rublev added.

“I was able little by little to start to move in a better direction. I’m not feeling any more stress, not feeling anxious, I’m not having depression. That’s a beginning.”
REUTERS