The 29-year-old world number two Kvitova suffered career-threatening injuries to her playing left hand as she fought off the intruder at her home in the eastern Czech town of Prostejov.

Police said the attacker did not know whose flat he was entering after pretending to be a technician checking boilers. Kvitova, who has identified the attacker, is currently playing at the Miami Open, facing Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals later on Tuesday.

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Despite grim forecasts by doctors, who even warned she might lose her fingers, the 2011 and 2014 Wimbledon champion has recovered and continued her successful career. Kvitova, who slumped as low as 29th in the world after the attack, reached the Australian Open final this year and is eyeing the world number one spot, which she could take from Naomi Osaka in Miami.

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