Non-conformist Kvitova goes own way at US Open

Outside of the Williams sisters, Petra Kvitova is the only multiple women's Grand Slam title winner in the US Open and is pursuing a third major on a diet of movies, napping and as little practice as possible.

The big-hitting Czech, who captured the Wimbledon crown in 2011 and 2014, is in the second week of a major for the first time this year.

It's been achieved without dropping a set and by studiously avoiding as often as possible the sometimes tortuous trip from Manhattan across the East River to Queens.

"It's funny. We were joking today that we were going to the site for the fourth time and I played three matches," said the 26-year-old Czech.

"I came here on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Last year I did the same. I played five matches and I spent six days here. 

"I'm happy that I'm not a person who has to practice every day."

It was a plan which worked well for Kvitova 12 months ago when she made the quarter-finals, her best run by far in New York, a city which has taken its time to convince her of its charms.

"I'm not really a fan of the traffic, but I started to like it last year when I played well and I made the quarter-finals."

Kvitova is some way behind Serena Williams (22 Grand Slam titles) and Venus Williams (seven) when it comes to the big-stage experience.

But with fellow multiple major winners, five-time champion Maria Sharapova (banned) and two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka (pregnant) both missing from New York, Kvitova finds herself in place to threaten Serena's push for a record 23rd major.

Her non-conformist approach has been fine-tuned over the years, even from the days when she was a junior.

When girls of a similar age were practicing for four or five hours a day, Kvitova and her father Jiri spent 90 minutes working on the technical side of the game and then called it quits.

It's not too far removed from her routine as a professional.

"I try to have a nap every day. I do a little bit of shopping or just walk in the city and do the fitness. After lunch I watch a movie or something."

Kvitova made the last 16 on Friday by beating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4 and will face either second seed Angelique Kerber or CiCi Bellis for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Source: AFP