Still lacking full use of her left hand, Kvitova could become No. 1

Two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova still can't use two fingers on her left hand, but she could get to No. 1 this week at Miami.

In 2016, Kvitova fended off a knife-wielding attacker in her home, leaving her with severe tendon and nerve injuries in her left hand that required lengthy surgery. She returned to tour in 2017 and has now climbed back to No. 2 in the rankings.

The current No. 1, Naomi Osaka, lost against Su-Wei Hsieh in the third round of Miami, and Kvitova will reach the top spot if she wins the title or reaches the final.

But whether she does it or not, Kvitova says her comeback has already been a big achievement.

“I did have few chances to be world No. 1 already in my career, and I didn't just make it. But I'm still here and still fighting," she said. "We'll see what the future bring. But for now, I'm really fine. Actually I already achieved big things before, and since my comeback, as well, so I'm really satisfied with everything already.”

It's been a good start to the season for the 29-year-old, winning Sydney and playing the Australian Open final before falling against Osaka in a tight three-setter. And she's done it all despite the fact that her left hand will never be 100 percent again.

“It will be never be 100 anyway. My movement, it's not great,” she said. “Those two fingers (thumb and index finger) are gone as well. I just do what I can. Sometimes, of course, it's not great when I play tennis. I'm trying enough to compensate it. Actually I don't know how I compensate it. I just try not to compensate it that much. I have the same racquet as I did before. I didn't really change anything. I'm really glad that it's still working.”