Petra Kvitova jokes about her fiance and coach Jiri Vanek having a lot to say about challenging aspects of dealing with her
Petra Kvitova joked that her coach Jiri Vanek, who she is also engaged to, would have a lot to say about the aspects of training her that he finds the most difficult. The two-time Grand Slam champion is not a big fan of practice sessions, which she feels is the biggest challenge for Vanek.
Vanek and Kvitova got engaged in August last year as the Czech coach and former ATP player popped the question at Kvitova's "special place," Wimbledon. The duo have been working together as player-coach since November 2016.
Kvitova, who has already had some impressive results in 2023, is enjoying her best run of the season so far in Miami, having reached the semifinals of the 2023 Miami Open with a hard-fought win over Ekaterina Alexandrova on Thursday. Speaking after the match, Kvitova jokingly said that Vanek could talk for more than two hours about what he finds challenging about her.
"I think it's a good question for him, and he could be here for two hours and still talking," Petra Kvitova said in a press conference.
"So I think, well, you know I don't like practices, right? So that's probably the biggest challenge for him, that he can't really train what he wants, I would say."
Kvitova does not prefer to practice day in and day out and likes to take some time off every now and then. She feels that Vanek has now gotten used to her preferences after quite a few years together and understands when she is in the mood to train hard and when she wants to take time off.
"But I think that over seven years which we are practicing together, he knows me pretty well when I need some time off and when I have to push," Kvitova added.
"So I think that even I have some days off, so I can still play some good tennis the day after. So I think he get used to already everything."
Kvitova, seeded 15th at the Miami Open this year, will next face unseeded Sorana Cirstea for a place in Saturday's final.
Petra Kvitova looks forward to "great matchup" against Sorana Cirstea in Miami Open 2023 semifinals
Petra Kvitova is excited for her Miami Open semi-final against Sorana Cirstea, who beat world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. Kvitova and Cirstea practiced together before the tournament started and Kvitova feels it will be fun and challenging at the same time to face another in-form player and someone she has had good battles against in the past.
"Nice I think to be playing somebody who is in as good form as me, so it will be great matchup, for sure. We played few battles already during our years," Petra Kvitova said on the same.
Kvitova and Cirstea have faced each other 10 times on tour so far, with Kvitova holding a narrow 6-4 lead. They last played at the Cincinnati Open last season and Kvitova won their Round of 32 match 6-2, 6-3. The Czech tennis star will now compete in her maiden Miami Open semi-final and 20th career WTA 1000 semi-final.