Knife attack victim Kvitova to face six months out

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is expected to face six months out of action as she recovers from a knife attack.

The 26-year old underwent almost four hours of surgery on tendons and nerves on her left hand – her playing hand – following the attack by an intruder at her home in the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

According to the surgeon, Kvitova’s operation went ‘‘very well and without complications’‘ and that the player was in ‘‘good spirits’‘.

Kvitova, who turned professional in 2006, won her first Wimbledon title in 2011 and then repeated the feat at the All England Club three years later.

She won bronze at the Rio Olympics and in November helped the Czech Republic win a third straight Fed Cup title, which was her fifth in total.