Petra Kvitova could find out later today how long she is likely to be sidelined for after undergoing surgery on the hand injury she suffered during a knife attack at her home on Tuesday.
The two-time Wimbledon champion said she was "fortunate to be alive" after defending herself during a robbery in her apartment in Prostejove, Czech Republic.
The intruder posed as a utilities man seeking to read a meter to gain access to the apartment, Press Association Sport understands, before a struggle ensued. It is understood the knife was put to Kvitova's throat and her left hand was injured as she pulled the weapon away.
Kvitova underwent a successful near four-hour operation on what is her racket-holding hand on Tuesday evening.
The Czech player will be out of action for at least three months, but her PR manager told Press Association Sport: "Doctors are optimistic she will be able to play tennis again."
Kvitova's PR manager continued: "Petra had surgery for three hours, 45 minutes. Considering the damage to her left hand, it was a success.
"She had tendon damage to all five digits on her left hand, and nerve damage to two of them.
"She's been told she will have to have her hand in a splint for six to eight weeks, and will be unable to bear any load for three months."
More information on how long Kvitova is likely to be out for is expected today, but the world number 11 is now certain to miss January's Australian Open as well as a host of other tournaments at the very least.
The year's second grand slam, the French Open, begins in late May while Wimbledon takes place in July.
Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, had already announced earlier on Tuesday that she would be missing January's Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia as she continues to recover from a foot injury.
The intruder who attacked Kvitova fled the scene after stealing 5,000 Czech Koruna (around €185), according to sport.cz.
"I am shaken, but fortunate to be alive," Kvitova wrote on Facebook before her operation.
"The injury is severe and I will need to see specialists, but if you know anything about me I am strong and I will fight this."
Her publicist Karel Tejkal said it was not a targeted attack.
Monica Seles was stabbed on court in Hamburg in 1993, resulting in a two-year absence from the sport.
Russian Anna Chakvetadze was assaulted with her family in their home in Moscow in 2007. She retired in 2013, aged 26.
