Petra Kvitova defeats Danielle Collins to book place in Aus Open women’s final

After being stabbed by a knife-wielding robber in a terrifying home invasion, Petra Kvitova was told she may never play elite tennis again. Now, she’s on the cusp of completing an incredible story. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES.

Kvitova’s power was too much for Collins to handle. Picture: AAP

THREE years after being stabbed in her own home, Petra Kvitova stands on the cusp of a grand slam miracle.

Attacked in December 2016 by a knife-wielding robber, Kvitova’s left hand was gashed so badly doctors feared the dual grand slam champion would never play again.

Five years after winning Wimbledon in 2014 and eight major tournaments into an astonishing comeback, Kvitova has the chance to land a third grand slam title — and the most precious of all.

COP THAT: SERENA CHAIR UMPIRE SPRAYED BY COLLINS

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Petra Kvitova celebrates her victory over American Danielle Collins. Picture: AP

The left-hander will face Naomi Osaki in Saturday’s decider after the Japanese baseliner eliminated Serena Williams’ conqueror Karolina Pliskova 6-2 4-6 6-4.

“Well, to be honest, I’m still not really believing that I’m in the final,” Kvitova beamed after banishing American Danielle Collins.

“It’s kind of weird, to be honest, as well, that I didn’t know even if I gonna play tennis again.

“Yeah, it wasn’t really nice time to be dealing with everything. It wasn’t only physically but mentally was very tough, as well.

Petra Kvitova stabbing attack injury

“It took me really while to believe, to the people around me again, and especially to the men, for sure.

“So I wasn’t pretty confident to be alone somewhere.”

Kvitova, 28, could climb to No 1 for the first time in her career if she downs Osaka, who also has a chance to succeed Simona Halep.

If Kvitova becomes the first Czech to win in Melbourne since Hana Mandlikova (1987), it will be the greatest comeback since Monica Seles won the 1996 Open title.

Czech Republic's tennis player Petra Kvitova holds her hand after addressing media in Prague

Kvitova’s power was too much for Collins to handle. Picture: AAP

Like Kvitova, Seles was the victim of a stabbing — in the middle of a match in Hamburg in 1993.

At the time, Seles had won seven of nine majors to be the most dominant player in the world.

Kvitova met Seles last year and, after toppling Collins in the semi-finals, reflected on a difficult journey.

“Yeah, it was lot of, lot of work with the hand. It was lot of recovery, treatment,” she said.

“I just set up the mind that I really wanted to come back, and I just did everything.

“So I was, like, practising with the hand, like, two, three times per day, which I don’t know if normal person will do that.

“But of course that I needed the hand to be back on the court. Not only on the court but be able to kind of live normal life.

The two combatants shake hands after the match. Picture: AAP

“Those three months (in 2016-17) were very, very tough.

“I find out lately that my doctor wasn’t really happy with my hand during the second month, because the scars were very, very tight and hard, and I couldn’t really do anything with that.

“Luckily he didn’t tell me, like, during that period. He waited when he could tell me.

“So I think that kind of the mental side was there, and I really need to be strong and not really thinking too negatively about it, but of course those thoughts were there, as well.

“Yeah, it’s been long journey.”

Osaka is the first Japanese player to reach the Australian Open final.

She will attempt to become the first woman to win successive majors — US Open and Australian Open — since Serena Williams in 2015.

Osaka said she would have preferred to play outdoors in the extreme heat after officials closed the roof under tournament rules.

“To be honest I like the heat. I was kind of sad about that (closing the roof),” she said.

“They had the roof open and I was like ‘It’s my time to shine’.”

The match had a touch of Hollywood about it with American Vogue editor Anna Wintour and celebrity power couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban watching from the sidelines. Picture: Michael Klein

I HAVEN’T NEEDED MY MENTAL COACH: KVITOVA

Leo Schlink

There are grand slam tennis form barometers – and then there are Petra Kvitova’s.

Most players know instinctively by feel how well they’re playing. Others confirm it by resorting to statistics.

Kvitova, who stands on the brink of one of the most emotive grand slam comeback triumphs of all time, knows she’s flying when she doesn’t need her psychologist.

“Well, to be honest, I do have my mental coach, but I wasn’t really talking with him this month,” the Czech grinned.

“Yeah, I think sometimes it’s like on the wave and I don’t really feel like I need to talk with him.

“It’s very good thing.”

Preparing to face Naomi Osaka in Saturday night’s final in search of her first Australian title and third major overall, the dual Wimbledon champion is elated at her progress.

Petra Kvitova speaks to the media ahead of the Australian Open final. Picture: Getty Images

Stabbed viciously in 2016, Kvitova was told she might not play at the highest level again.

But she has courageously recovered from the bleakest circumstances, physically and mentally.

“You know, there are kind of moments and days where I didn’t really think very positively that I can be in the final of the grand slam anymore,” she said.

“It took me a little while, five years to get there, which is not really easy.

“That’s probably the best thing that I really proved, that I didn’t give up. That’s probably the best.”

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