Petra Kvitova Knife Attack: 2-Time Wimbledon Champion ‘Fortunate To Be Alive’ After Burglary At Czech Home

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she is “fortunate to be alive” after a knife attack at her home in the Czech Republic on Tuesday. The 26-year-old, who won Wimbledon titles in 2011 and 2014 and is currently ranked No. 11 in the world, was at her apartment in the Czech town of Prostejov when she was a victim of a burglary, her publicist Karel Tejkal said.

Kvitova was not thought to have been deliberately targeted.

"It was a random crime, nobody was going to attack or rob her as Petra Kvitova," Tejkal said.

The incident happened a little before 9 a.m. local time, and the perpetrator gained access to the apartment by claiming he needed to read the electricity meter, according to Czech outlet Večerník Praha. The intruder stole 5,000 Czech Koruna ($192), reported Sport.CZ, before fleeing the scene. Kvitova was said to have suffered serious injuries to the tendons on her left hand.

“Thank you for all your heartwarming messages,” the Czech native wrote on Facebook. “As you may have already heard, today I was attacked in my apartment by an individual with a knife. 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 and now I would appreciate some privacy while I focus on my recovery.”

More details were set to be released by the police as the investigation continues.

“At the moment all I can say is that today before half past eight in the morning, a 26-year-old woman was attacked near Prostejov,” police spokesman Frantisek Korinek said. “The unidentified perpetrator broke into the apartment using a ruse.

“Given that the investigation is only just beginning we will not currently provide further details.”

Kvitova, who last played in the final of the Fed Cup, a team event, last month, was at home enjoying the winter off-season. She was set to begin her year at the Hopman Cup in Australia on Jan. 1, but had announced earlier on Tuesday that she was forced to withdraw from the tournament because of a foot injury.