Prague: Petra Kvitova regards this weekend's Fed Cup final as her last chance to salvage a year which has been a big comedown after her stellar 2011. Kvitova led the Czech Republic last year to its first Fed Cup title in 23 years, and this weekend she will help defend that crown at home against Serbia.
Despite withdrawing midway through last week's elite WTA Championships with bronchitis, she said on Wednesday she hoped "to be 100 percent fit on Saturday" for the opening singles. "We expect her to play," Czech captain Petr Pala said.
She and the doubles team are the keys to the Czech's chances, but Kvitova will start with question marks over her fitness and form. In a season plagued by injuries and illnesses, she has dropped from being ranked No. 2 to No. 8. She failed to successfully retain any of the six titles she won in 2011, including Wimbledon and the WTA Championships, but won two tour events and reached the semifinals at the Australian and French Opens.
"Of course, I didn't win any Grand Slam," she said. "But I'm so happy that I'm here and I was able to be in the top eight in Istanbul. So, I think it's a good season and we try, all of us, to play our best and to win this trophy again." Kvitova has been struggling in the last two months, in particular, with just one win in her last three WTA events....
12:03 AM, Nov 01, 2012
