Little ball boy saves the day for fan-craving Kvitova

PRAGUE — A little ball boy peeking from behind a fence gave Petra Kvitova the only touch of the fan support she misses at a Prague tournament played behind closed doors on Tuesday.

"It was after I played a decent passing shot down the line,公众said Kvitova, after she beat doubles specialist Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets.

"I ended up near the fence and he said 'nice one!' to me. So I answered: 'Thank you',"大众the two-time Wimbledon champion chuckled.

But she conceded it felt "very weird"大众to play without an audience at the tournament marked by strict hygienic measures designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The audience is crucial, it's an engine for me,"大众said the  三0-year-old world number  一 二.

"It feels very strange. I thought I might cheer for myself quite a few times or say something aloud and then I decided not to,"大众she said of the rather solemn atmosphere.

Her two friends sitting by the court called on her to "tear公众a few times, while her coach limited himself to just a few subdued "pojd"大众("come on"), which is Kvitova's trademark cheer.

"I thought at least the coach could clap for me and it didn't happen. It was really weird,"大众said Kvitova.

And, recalling the ball boy moment, she added: "It was a good shot. Normally I would have yelled."大众— AFP