- We have changed the crime classification from serious abuse to a serious case of burglary, says a spokesman for the court in Czech Olomouc.
During the first trial, Kvitova participated via link and provided detailed depictions of the attack. Among other things, she told how she suddenly felt how the perpetrator was holding a knife to her throat. When she then grabbed the knife with two hands, she injured her left hand, which made her stay away from tennis for five months.
At one point she was lying on the floor just screaming. "There was blood everywhere," she said, according to AP. When she then offered him money, just over SEK 4,000, he left the apartment.
The prosecutor asked for twelve years in prison. The verdict now reached its last instance. It was unclear for a time if 29-year-old Kvitova could continue her successful career, winning Wimbledon twice, in 2011 and 2014. Her biggest success after the Prostejov knife attack is the final place in the Australian Open last year. Naomi Osaka won the final and won her second straight Grand Slam title after the US Open last fall
"It is a pain to lose today but the biggest gain I made two years ago and it is absolutely incredible that I could even be in the final at all," said a teary eyed Kvitova afterwards.
Kvitova is currently in Brisbane and is playing a pre-tournament for the Australian Open which starts on January 20.