London - Petra Kvitova should be able to play tennis again but looks set to miss at least the first half of next season and possibly Wimbledon after her left hand was slashed in a knife attack on Tuesday.
Kvitova, 26, said she was "fortunate to be alive" after an intruder attacked her at her home in the Czech Republic.
Radek Kebrle, the surgeon who operated on her hand for almost four hours, struck a cautiously optimistic note, saying the two-time Wimbledon champion might be able to return to light training in six to eight weeks and grip a racket in three months’ time.
Kebrle, of the Hand and Plastic Surgery Institute, said: "When we talk about (playing tennis), it will take about six months.
"It’s a serious injury and we have to deal with that accordingly. She’s young and healthy and has long, slim fingers but it still is a relatively massive injury."
Kebrle said all of the fingers on Kvitova’s left hand were hurt, together with two nerves, as she grabbed the attacker’s knife.
Kvitova’s representative Karel Tejkal said: "There will be several weeks of waiting with a splint and then, gradually, slowly, she will be able to put the hand to work."
Kvitova’s spokesperson Katie Spellman added: "The best-case scenario is that Petra will be able to return to the tennis court after six months.
"It is too soon to specify when precisely she can return to competition but Petra is ready to do everything she can to get back to competing at the highest level.
"She is happy with how the operation went and is in good spirits.’
Kvitova’s attacker stole 5,000 koruna (£155) before fleeing and was thought to be still at large.
Police appealed to the public to report anyone meeting his description.