Kvitova wary of tough draw as she prepares for the title defence

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  • Defending champion Petra Kvitova says the high quality field and small draw in Dubai poses a unique challenge for the top players, who get to face very difficult opponents from the very first round here.

    Kvitova, the world No6, will begin her title defence against Spanish world No16 Carla Suarez Navarro and could face Doha champion and world No9 Simona Halep in the following round.

    “I can’t say that I’m enjoying it,” Kvitova said when asked about the difficult Dubai draw.

    “It’s totally different compared to Doha or Indian Wells or Miami. From the first round you have to play like quarter-finals in the other tournaments, so that’s different. I can’t say that in the bigger draws we are not really ready for the first round, but here if you’re not 100 per cent ready for your first round it’s very very tough.”

    Kvitova, a former Wimbledon champion, suffered a shock opening round loss at the Australian Open last month and then fell ill and had to pull out of Paris. But two good wins over Lucie Safarova and Venus Williams last week in Doha have helped restore her confidence.

    “I’m feeling good, I’m not injured, that’s the most important thing, I just need some more energy and everything will be good,” said the 23-year-old.

    She says her health is a priority at the moment and that she’s not putting too much pressure on herself as the title holder in Dubai.

    “I don’t have really expectations. I saw the draw and it’s really tough. I came from Doha where I played good matches like last year so I’m hoping that this week will be as good as last year, I’ll just try my best,” she said.

    Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up Sara Errani could once again bump into her doubles partner and best friend Roberta Vinci in the Dubai draw. The Italian Australian Open doubles champions faced off in the semi-finals at the Aviation Club last year and have been frequently drawn in the same section in the past year.

    “It’s very difficult. In the last tournaments we are always in the same spot it’s unbelievable,” said Errani, who together with Vinci are the top seeds in the doubles draw this week.

    “We don’t like to play each other for sure, but sometimes it happens and it’s important to just go there and try not to think about it.”

    The world No10 says repeating her final showing from last year could be difficult but she’s hoping to take it one match a time.

    “This year is an unbelievable draw, all the best players are here so I know it won’t be easy. So I’ll just take it match by match and see what happens,” said Errani.

    “It’s a bit of pressure to defend the points but I think it’s normal. I defend points for many weeks during the year so you just try to play your game, play your best and then you see what happens.”

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