Petra Kvitova was coached by the former coach of Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka, Wim Fissette, at Tokyo last week. But the agreement was for a one-week trial only, and the Czech is back on her own at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open in China.
It’s not clear if Kvitova is leaning towards Fissette or not, but the pair did appear to have a good rapport in Tokyo. One thing most experts agree on is that it is time for Kvitova to strike up a productive relationship with a coach. That hasn’t been easy for the two-time Wimbledon champion after she parted ways with her longtime coach David Kotyza after seven years at the beginning of this season.
The Czech has won 31 matches this season and captured the Bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, but she has underachieved by the lofty standards that she has set for herself. She has yet to make a final in 2016—she's simply too talented for that to happen.
But it's not like she hasn't been trying. Kvitova worked with Frantisek Cermak from April to September, but parted ways with the former Czech doubles specialist after the U.S. open. Cermak is now working with Kvitova’s compatriot Lucie Safarova while Kvitova is still searching for a coach—and her consistency—on tour.
At times this season Kvitova has demonstrated the type of tennis that saw her climb as high as No. 2 in the rankings and win two major titles. Twice in 2011 Kvitova was two matches from becoming No. 1 in the world. It didn’t happen then, but with Serena Williams turning 35, there’s no reason why she can’t make another run at the top of women’s tennis.
26 in women's tennis is quite young, after all.
Kvitova, who defeated Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets to reach the second round in Wuhan on Monday, says the personality of her next coach will be every bit as important as his chops.
“I think I’m kind of different. It’s a little bit difficult,” she said, according to Reem Abulliel of Sport 360. “I think that for me sometimes it’s more important the personality of the coach than about the kind of can I say like quality of tennis. I know he has to be a good coach, for sure. But he has to fit in as a personality to me and my team as well. It’s a bit difficult, but hopefully I will find it.”