Petra Kvitova to undergo FOUR HOUR career saving operation after suffering ‘severe lacerations’ to all four fingers in terrifying knife attack at her home – but could be back in action soon
The WTA star was transferred to hospital in Brno this morning and is reportedly being rushed into the operating theatre for a serious hand operation
TWO-TIME Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova underwent an emergency FOUR HOUR operation to save her tennis career after she was viciously attacked by a knife-wielding burglar at her home.
The 26-year old's representatives have confirmed to SunSport that Kvitova suffered 'severe lacerations' to all four fingers on her left hand - her playing hand - and the tennis star had a lengthy emergency procedure this afternoon.
The attacker is said to have held a knife to the tennis star's throat after claiming to be the boiler man to get into her apartment block in the Czech town of Prostejov.
But amazingly, she could be back playing in just THREE months.
The intruder fled the scene after stealing 5,000 Czech Koruna (around £155), according to reports by sport.cz.
Earlier today, Kvitova's representatives issued a statement on the tennis star's behalf saying the tennis star felt "fortunate to be alive".
It read: "Thank you for all your heartwarming messages today. 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."
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Kvitova, who has since been transferred to a hospital in the city of Brno, was scheduled to participate in a charity event in the city of Brno on Tuesday with another Czech player, Lucie Safarova.
"It's horrible," Safarova told a Czech radio station.
"Things like that are shocking to all of us. It can happen to anyone of us. That's really terrible."
In April 1993, Monica Seles was at the height of her success when she was stabbed in the back during a changeover at a tournament in Hamburg. A man reached over a courtside railing and knifed her, leaving an inch-deep slit between her shoulder blades.
Seles returned to the game 27 months later and reached the 1995 U.S. Open final.
In an unrelated move earlier this week, Kvitova withdrew from the Czech Republic team at next month's Hopman Cup mixed-team tennis tournament because of an earlier foot injury.
