Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is undergoing surgery on a hand injury suffered in a knife attack at her apartment this morning.
The 26-year-old damaged the tendons in her left hand during the burglary in the Czech town of Prostejov and requires a potentially career-saving operation.
Prior to going under the knife on Tuesday afternoon, Kvitova said that she feels "fortunate to be alive" following the break-in, coming after she allowed somebody posing as a gas man into her home.
Widespread reports claim that a struggle then ensued before the intruder held a knife to her throat, with Kvitova sustaining lacerations to four fingers on her left hand - her tennis-playing hand - which she described as "severe".
It is not yet known just how serious the damage will be in the long term, but an update on the 2011 and 2014 Wimbledon champion's condition is expected at some stage on Tuesday evening.
Daniel Lewis
