SINGAPORE—Petra Kvitova, who defeated Lucie Safarova 7-5, 7-5 at the WTA Finals on Wednesday, says that it’s difficult to face her Czech compatriot, as the two have become good friends over the past seven years. Kvitova, who is now 1-1 in the White Group at the WTA Finals, is 8-0 lifetime against Safarova, who has lost both of her matches in Singapore.
“Before the match we have the same locker room and we were just chatting normally, not like we go to play each other soon,” Kvitova said. “She's good person and it's just kind of sad that we have to play each other in the group already. We actually are good friend from the Fed Cup, so I'm really glad the Fed Cup is coming soon and we going to be colleagues and not opponents.
“It's tough to play her for sure, not because she's only like very good player right now, she's in good form, but also playing friend it's a little bit tougher with emotional and everything. So it's not easy to handle all these kind of stuff.”
Kvitova says she is not 100 percent healthy, but is good enough to compete for the rest of the season. The 25-year-old, who was diagnosed with mononucleosis following Wimbledon, will play the Fed Cup final in Prague in two weeks' time.
“I'm not holding anything [back]. It's the last tournament of the individual kind of type of the season and it's the WTA Final[s], so I should give everything and I am giving every out,” Kvitova said. “Of course when the Fed Cup will come it's a little bit different energy over there. Even we playing home, it's just the best energy what we can really wish in the end of the season. I think I will be still able to give everything there as well.”
Kvitova will face against Garbine Muguruza, who has won both of her round-robin matches, on Friday.