Kvitova’s hometown erupts

Fulnek, Czech Republic – The eastern Czech town of Fulnek came to a standstill for two hours on Saturday, then erupted with joy as local tennis star Petra Kvitova won the Wimbledon women's title.

“We're so proud of her,” Jana Mocova, the mayor of the town, about 300 kilometres east of Prague, told AFP after the 21-year-old Kvitova breezed past Russia's Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-4 in the final.

“The atmosphere is fantastic. We're celebrating because it's fantastic, fantastic, fantastic,” Mocova, overcome by joy, said in a telephone interview.

Then she paused and added: “The former mayor here says we're not celebrating, we're getting drunk.”

More than 200 people watched the final on a large screen at the community centre in Fulnek, a town with population of just under 6,000, where Kvitova's father is deputy mayor.

They clapped hands and chanted “Petra! Petra!”, then raised glasses of beer for a toast as Kvitova raised the trophy.

Pubs all over the town were crowded and the streets were empty throughout the match, the public Czech Radio said, adding strawberries with cream were being served in the town all day to evoke the atmosphere at Wimbledon.

“When Petra's dad was leaving for Wimbledon, I asked him to negotiate the nearest date possible so we could invite everyone to the town square and greet Petra,” Mocova said, adding the town hall would discuss an honorary citizenship for the champion. – Sapa-AFP