Reluctant star Petra Kvitova back in the limelight
Sixth seed is back on her game, but initially found it difficult to deal with the media three years ago when she won final at Wimbledon
Petra Kvitova will reluctantly return to the spotlight in the Wimbledon final against Eugenie Bouchard on Saturday as the shy Czech tries to emulate her breakthrough triumph on Centre Court.
When Kvitova surprisingly defeated Maria Sharapova to win her first grand slam title in the 2011 Wimbledon final, it was expected to herald the start of a dominant period for the youngster, whose aggressive style seemed suited to the demands of the modern power game.
But Kvitova's no-nonsense on-court exterior hides her true personality, which is far more quiet and reserved, and as a result she has been engaged in a long battle to deal with the harsh glare of the sporting spotlight.
It was really a point when everything changed in my life after Wimbledon. A lot of things changed
As a relatively anonymous figure on the women's tour previously, Kvitova's Wimbledon victory brought her uncomfortable and unwanted scrutiny from the world's media and fans intrigued by her sudden prominence.
The transition has proved extremely hard for Kvitova and her form suffered as a result.
"It was really a point when everything changed in my life after Wimbledon," she said. "A lot of things changed in my life. I'm not any more too much of a private person.
"Of course, the media are interested in everything, so that's not easy as well. I'm still living with the pressure, that's what I really need to handle."