Petra Kvitova is preparing to channel her grand slam mentality in Madrid as she looks to make WTA history this week.
The world number two became the first player to win two titles in 2019 on the WTA circuit after winning in Stuttgart last week.
As a result she is currently number one in ‘Race To Shenzhen’ as she continues to target dominance on the WTA tour.
Now the Czech Republican is looking for more history on the WTA tour as she bids to become the first player to win a single Premier Mandatory four times.
To achieve this goal and successfully defend her Madrid Kvitova looks to channel her grand slam mentality, “Winning six matches!, It’s almost like a Grand Slam over [eight] days,” Kvitova said to the WTA website on media day.
“[You have to be] ready for the first round, for sure. The clay season just started so you don’t know what’s going to happen. And stay healthy, for sure.
“Knowing that I can play well on the clay, it’s good to know as well. I don’t think I have the best game for the clay, but somehow I’m playing good.”
The 29 year-old also explained why the conditions in Madrid suit her game better than Rome and Roland Garros, “The balls are flying more [because of the altitude], which means I can go for it and it’s tougher for the opponent,” Kvitova explained.
“The courts are not sliding that much as well. I’m not a big slider so I don’t have to slide at all. I’m going to try to play good tennis and we will see, but we know everyone is playing here and everybody is so strong and getting ready for clay.”
As well as the conditions, Kvitova spoke about the rising stars of the WTA circuit, which has been part of the reason why there have been so many different winners this season.
“We’re seeing more younger players, like Anisimova, Bencic, Vondrousova from Czech Republic. Hopefully it’s tough for them to get through us like we had a really tough time getting through the older ones.”
Well Kvitova will see if it is tougher for them to get past the experienced ones on Saturday as she begins the start of her title defence against 20 year-old Sofia Kenin.
