Actually, one might think that a two-time Wimbledon winner could have airs and graces – not so with the Czech Petra Kvitova. Even in the third set of a Masters tournament, the 33-year-old took care of her opponent.
Belinda Bencic twisted her left ankle at the 1000 tournament in Montreal in the round of 16 against Kvitova and was visibly in pain. Kvitova – quick-witted – immediately got a plastic bag of ice cubes to chill her opponent’s foot. Arriving on the bench, the Czech knelt down next to her opponent from Switzerland, asked about her state of health and offered moral support.
It was not for nothing that Kvitova had already won the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award eight times in her career – after voting by the players on the WTA tour.
And Bencic, who incidentally was able to continue playing after a ten-minute break, thanked Kvitova for her empathetic and loving interaction.
The Swiss tweeted after the match: “Not how we both wanted this match to end. You are one of my closest friends but I know you would show that sportsmanship with anyone and that is why you are a tennis legend but above all a wonderful person.
In terms of sport, the match did not have the desired outcome, as Bencic described, but in a different direction. Bencic had his ankle bandaged and showed exquisite tennis. Kvitova, on the other hand, had to take a medical break herself. The Czech ended the match after suffering abdominal pain, but lost 7:6, 3:6, 1:6.
But despite the defeat, Bencic still hugged her heartily on the net.
Kvitova herself tweeted after the game that she would be undergoing medication and hopes to be fit for the Cincinnati WTA tournament. Then she tackles her 32nd title on the tour – but until then, the interpersonal scenes will stick in the memory.
2023-08-12 20:30:17
#Kvitovas #fair #play #gesture #inspires #opponent
