Two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova 'fortunate to be alive' after attack

Christopher Devine

Two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova 'fortunate to be alive' after attack image

Petra Kvitova says she sustained a "severe" injury to her left hand, but the two-time Wimbledon champion feels lucky to be alive after being attacked in her apartment by a knife-wielding intruder.

Local newspaper Prostejovsky Vecernik reported (via CNN.com) that Kvitova sustained "slashed tendons and fingers" on her left hand during the attempted robbery at her home in Prostejov, a small town about 160 miles from Prague where a number of Czech tennis pros live and train in the offseason..

The world's No. 11-ranked player, a native of the Czech Republic, confirmed early reports of the attack, providing details of the incident through a message posted to her verified Twitter and Facebook accounts.

MORE: Sports' most iconic photos​

It read:

"Thank you for all your heartwarming messages. As you may have already heard, today [Tuesday] I was attacked in my apartment by an individual with a knife.

"In my attempt to defend myself, I was badly injured on my left hand. I am shaken, but fortunate to be alive.

"The injury is severe and I will need to see specialists, but if you know anything about me I am strong and I will fight this.

"Thank you all again for your love and support and now I would appreciate some privacy while I focus on my recovery."

Thank you for all your heartwarming messages. As you may have already heard, today I was attacked in my apartment by an...

Posted by Petra Kvitová on Tuesday, 20 December 2016

A police spokesman told The Associated Press that the attacker, a man who is about 35 years old, escaped from the scene and remained at-large. He said police have launched a manhunt.

Earlier, it was announced that Kvitova, 26, would not compete in the Hopman Cup next month because of a foot injury. 

It's unclear how Tuesday's knife injury will affect Kvitova, who won the 2011 and 2014 women's singles title at Wimbledon.

Christopher Devine