Let this be a lesson for us all to check credentials of anyone who rings the door bell and asks to enter the house, as Czech Republic tennis star Petra Kvitova has been attacked with a knife at her home by a man posing as an electricity-maintenance worker.
Yesterday, the two-time Wimbledon champion said she was 'fortunate to be alive' after a man, described as around 5ft 11in and aged 35, rang the doorbell and asked to enter her home to read the electricity meter.
According to the Guardian, Kvitova was eating her breakfast at the time at her home in the eastern Czech Republic town of Prostejov, and allowed the man in before he threatened her with a knife and stole 5,000 koruna (the equivalent of £155).
The 26-year-old athlete fought back but suffered lesions to all five fingers of her left hand – her playing hand in tennis – which resulted in damage to the tendons, according to the local Prostejovsky Vecernik newspaper.
Following this horrific ordeal, the winner of the women's singles title at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, went to a hospital in Brno where she was operated on last night.
Kvitova's PR manager Katie Spellman tweeted:
With concerns over Kvitova's career, Spellman told Press Association that doctors are 'optimistic' she will be able to play tennis again.
The current world No11 champion opened up about her attack on social media and thanked fans for their love and support.
She tweeted:
'In my attempt to defend myself, I was badly injured on my left hand. I am shaken, but fortunate to be alive. The injury is severe and I will need to see specialists, but if you know anything about me I am strong and I will fight this. Thank you all again for your love and support,' she concluded.
According to her publicist Karel Tejkal, there are no signs to suggest Kvitova was a chosen target, rather the victim of a 'random criminal act'.
As a result of the incident, Kvitova will be unable to compete at the Australia Open which begins on 16 January, following a year of health issues including a foot injury and stomach problems that saw her leave Wimbledon after the second round, earlier this year.
The star's attack is similar to that of former world No1 tennis champion Monica Seles who was stalled in the back during a tournament in Hamburg in 1992 and former world No 5 Anna Chakvetadze from Russia who was the victim of a vicious attack at her home where masked men tied her up with her family and stole £150,000 in cash and jewellery.
Regardless of Kvitova's career, we're relieved she is safe and on the mend.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
