Teary Kvitova Thanks Her Team in Heartfelt Speech in Melbourne

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Teary Kvitova Thanks Her Team in Heartfelt Speech in Melbourne

Classy at the start—classy at the finish.

After falling in three sets to Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open final, Petra Kvitova gives an emotional speech and celebrates her return to the sport’s biggest stage.

Kvitova, who survived an attack from a knife-wielding burglar in 2016, nearly had to give up the sport after she severed all four fingers of her left hand. But the two-time Wimbledon champion made a stunning return to tennis in 2017 and since then has become an inspirational figure as she has slowly but surely made her way back to the top of the game.

On Saturday night in Melbourne, she thanked the fans and her team for sticking with her as the tears flowed.

“It’s crazy I cannot believe that I just played the finals of a Grand Slam again,” she told the crowd. “To my team, thank you for everything but mostly for sticking with me even though we didn’t know if I’d be able to hold this racquet again.”

At this point Kvitova was interrupted by a rousing ovation.

She continued: “You were there every single day supporting me and staying positive for me which I really needed. It probably wasn’t very easy so thank you so much.”

Kvitova has talked not just of the physical hardship she suffered after the attack, but also the psychological difficulties. She recently told reporters that she could not be alone for a very long time, and when she finally was able to do it she celebrated the milestone with her team.

Her trip to the final in Melbourne marks her first appearance in a Grand Slam final since she claimed the Wimbledon title in 2014.

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