Petra Kvitova says her main priority during the off-season was improving her movement. The 2011 Wimbledon champion hired fitness coach Marek Vseticek at the start of last fall and worked with him for an extended period during the off-season.

“It was my first priority,” Kvitova said. “Then I practice on my serve. When I'm practicing on the fitness and then I improve my movement, is everything easier then. I feel more comfortable on the court and I have more confidence that I can play more rallies than I did before, that I don't have to risk every ball from the second shot, for example. So this is I think that it's making me more relaxed on the court. I think that the game, it came then.”

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Kvitova’s main off-season move: Movement

Kvitova’s main off-season move: Movement

The world No. 6 said she's feeling the benefits of her training sooner than expected.

“In the last month when we practice, I didn't really think that it will bring me exactly in this month that I will be quicker and everything," Kvitova said. "So I'm just trying to play and catch every ball, and I think that's the most important thing. I'm not really think about, but when I am look back, for example today's match [a 6-1, 6-0 win over Christina McHale in Sydney], now that I catch quite tough balls. So I think that's good.”