Two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will reportedly not be able to play competitive tennis for around six months.
Petra Kvitova Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A Czech news website, citing the surgeon who operated on Kvitova's playing hand after it was injured in a knife-attack, said it would be a long recovery.
"When we talk about (competitive) pressure on the hand, we are talking about a period of around six months (before that would be possible)," Radek Kebrle was quoted by Czech website aktualne.
The Czech world No.11 suffered injuries to the fingers on her left hand in the attack yesterday morning, which occurred at her apartment.
Kvitova said that she was fortunate to be alive after the attack in the city of Prostejov, about 260 km south-east of Prague.
The hard-hitting left-hander rose to world No.2 in 2011 when she won the first of her two Wimbledon singles titles.
The 26-year-old slipped in the rankings this year but showed improved form in recent months, winning the Wuhan Open title in October and the season-ending WTA Elite trophy in November.
-Reuters