Where is Petra Kvitova in terms of her career? The talented left hander from the Czech republic was two years ago approaching the Australian Open as the number two player in the world having just won the season ending WTA Tour Championships and earlier her first Grand Slam title on Wimbledon's grass in 2011.
People had drawn some comparisons to another Czech born left hander who won her first major at Wimbledon and proceeded to win another 8 at the same place. Martina herself predicted a stellar future for Kvitova.
Petra appeared to have the game and the desire to be the biggest name in women's tennis for a significant period to come. However, despite Kvitova making the semis at both the Aus Open and Roland Garros in 2012, it was the Aus Open champ - Vika Azarenka - who in 2012 realised her potential and took the big step up to now be the best in the world when Serena chooses to be doing something else.
Kvitova can win tournaments, defeat any opponent when her game is switched on, and could be a serious contender for the top 2 in the singles rankings. Consistency of performance, though has dragged her back and although she ranks constantly in the top ten, that is not total fulfilment of potential and not befitting of the player I saw prevail over Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2011.
2013 was a year of lost opportunities, especially at the 4 majors. Petra only made it to the second round in Melbourne, third round in both Paris and New York, and the quarters at Wimbledon. The disappointment of losing exits such as those is compounded by knowing that the defeats were to players ranked 53, 54, 20 and 81 in the world. Kvitova suffered the ignominy of further losses in the season to players ranked 71, 87 and 131.
The end of the year was better, with a final in Tokyo and semis in Beijing and the WTA Tour Championships - her only losses to fellow top ten players.
This year, after her Hopman Cup appearance, Petra survived the glut of upsets in the Sydney event only to fall to Pironkova in the semi final. Still a good lead-in effort to the Australian Open, and maybe, just maybe a 2014 full of consistent high standard tennis from a racquet capable of propelling Petra Kvitova from a regular top ten performer into one of the top two or three, and number one should Serena ever finish.
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