Google News Petra Kvitova on Russian players: "They shouldn't play in the Olympics"
by LORENZO CIOTTI | VIEW 388
Even Petra Kvitova is not into it and she lashed out against the Russian and Belarusian tennis players in the last press conference at the Miami Open, in view of the final scheduled for Saturday 1 April against the Kazakh Elena Rybakina.
She said: "I am always against war. I'm more concerned about the Ukrainian people and their players. I understand that Wimbledon had a hard time not scoring points last year because they prevented the Russians from playing. I think they shouldn't even be allowed to go to the Olympics.
I'm a bit on the side of the Ukrainians in all of this. I feel the reason why the Olympics exist is because we don't want any war in the world. So this is my concern. I'm grateful that Wimbledon didn't host them last year."
Petra Kvitova on the final of the Miami Open 2023
About the final of the Miami Open, she said: "I'm very happy, that's for sure.
I've waited a long time to reach the final at the Miami Open and I finally made it. It was very difficult, so I'm very happy I did it and to have the chance to play the final act of the tournament. In the semis I kept my momentum and was better with my serve.
That was the key in my opinion, the game was very tough." On the condition of the courts: "I had played well at Indian Wells. Losing in the quarterfinals hurts, it was a difficult challenge against Maria. I've been getting better since I got here.
Here the balls bounce a lot, the surface is a bit faster. I think all conditions are pretty much the same. My serve was very important to me throughout the tournament." Then she concluded: "I have never been a consistent player, I must say.
There have been more ups and downs, maybe with age I have more experience. However, I am proud of myself, of how I managed the games, especially when I was down. It's something really important. As everyone knows, I love playing in the finals."
