Burrage after beating Kvitova : “She’s the same player that she was when she was on tour 17 months ago”

Petra Kvitova played a match for the first time in 17 months on Tuesday at the ATX Open in Austin. The 34-year-old, who gave birth to her first child — a son, Petr — last July, lost to Jodie Burrage 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Kvitova gave Burrage everything she could handle and the Brit praised her opponent afterward.

“She’s an absolute champion,” Burrage commented. “I knew I was going to have to fight out here. (I) got off to a pretty shaky start, but she came out like she hadn’t been away for 17 months. She was slapping everything and it was going in, so I knew then who I was up against. There was no doubt in my mind that she’s the same player that she was when she was on tour 17 months ago.”

Kvitova is keeping her expectations low for her comeback. That being said, she is encourage by fellow mothers such as Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina and Belinda Bencic — who have enjoyed varying degrees of success in their tennis careers as mothers.

“Those girls are pretty young still, of course,” the Czech noted. “I would say my age is different. But we’re used to working hard. Even after pregnancy and giving birth we know what to do and we’re willing to do it. When you already played well before, you want to be back where you belong, basically.

“Belinda and I are in touch, and it’s nice she’s playing so well. Her daughter is like 2 and a half months older than our Petr, so that’s fun. She just showed us that it’s possible, coming back after giving birth. That’s a good sign.”

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