Kvitová leaves Istanbul with a virus; Fed Cup final uncertain

Shortly after the Czech women’s tennis captain Petr Pála announced on Wednesday that Petra Kvitová will lead her teammates in the Fed Cup final next week, the sixth seed announced that she is dropping out of the WTA tournament in Istanbul due to illness. Kvitová was diagnosed with bronchitis, but her coach David Kotyza said she may still appear at Prague’s O2 arena next week for the Fed Cup final against the Serbian team. Pála said that in case Kvitová is unable to compete, Klára Zakopalová may step in and join teammates Lucie Šafářová, Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká. The Fed Cup final is scheduled to begin on Monday 29 October with an exhibition match between Petra Kvitová and the Russian Maria Sharapova.

Author: Masha Volynsky