Comeback queen Petra Kvitova fights back tears after losing epic Aus Open final to Naomi Osaka

With her voice cracking and the crowd cheering, tennis' comeback queen Petra Kvitova has struggled through an emotional post-match speech after she was defeated in the Australian Open final by Naomi Osaka.

Petra Kvitova has learnt plenty about life – good and bad – over the past two years.

At Melbourne Park, Kvitova taught her peers what it is to lose with grace after being to hell and back.

The Czech’s effort to reach a grand slam final little more than two years after her racquet hand was so badly gashed she almost lost fingers was miraculous.

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Petra Kvitova fought back tears after her Australian Open defeat.

The brutal reality of sport is that nothing is guaranteed, or deserved.

If sentiment counted for anything, Kvitova would have allowed to hold aloft the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.

Naomi Osaka, selfishly denied by Serena Williams’ posturing in New York in September, also had plenty of support – and sympathisers.

But it was Kvitova’s inspiring generosity and lack of selfishness which contrasted so vividly with Williams’ petulance at the US Open.

There was no recrimination.

She didn’t attempt to hijack Osaka’s moment of triumph.

She simply gave a beautiful, heartfelt post-match speech.

Petra Kvitova was a gracious loser in the Australia Open final.

She wasn’t mean-spirited or disingenuous, focusing on Osaka’s achievements as well as her own team’s support.

It was classy and typical of a woman who has six Karen Krantzcke awards for sportsmanship – the category voted on by her peers.

"Thank you for sticking with me even when we didn't know if I would able to hold a racquet again," Kvitova said.

"Every single day you have been supporting me and staying positive for me, which I really needed. It probably was not easy, so thank you so.

"It's crazy. I can hardly believe that I just played in a grand slam final again.

"It was a great final. Well done to Naomi Osaka. To your team as well. You really played well and you deserve to be number one as well.

 Osaka, fittingly, led the tributes to Kvitova.

She wasn't alone. For not the first time, Kvitova commanded unqualified respect.

What a contrast to the US Open.

Petra Kvitova produced plenty of highlight reels, but ultimately fell short.

KVITOVA'S EMOTIONAL SPEECH

"Thank you for sticking with me even when we didn't know if I would able to hold a racquet again.

"Every single day you have been supporting me and staying positive for me, which I really needed. It probably was not easy, so thank you so.

"It's crazy. I can hardly believe that I just played in a grand slam final again.

"It was a great final. Well done to Naomi Osaka. To your team as well. You really played well and you deserve to be number one as well.

"It's a great tournament for me. It is a big honour to hold this beautiful trophy as well.

"It has been a while to be in a final for me and I need to be in a final for me and I need to thank my family and friends back home who were really supporting me right through the match.

"I want to say thank you to everyone who made this possible."

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