Perth WA, Australia, 20 December 2016 | hopmancup.com

Three-time doubles Grand Slam champion and two-time Olympic medallist Lucie Hradecka will replace world No.11 Petra Kvitova for the Czech Republic at the Mastercard Hopman Cup from 1-7 January 2017.

Kvitova has been recovering from a stress fracture in her foot and needs more time to regain full health ahead of Australian Open 2017.

“I am so disappointed I will be unable to play at the Hopman Cup. The results of an MRI have confirmed that my foot is healing but not as quickly as we would have liked,” Kvitova said.

“The Hopman Cup is a fantastic event and I’m sorry I won’t be able to represent my country in front of the great fans there,” she added.

Hradecka will make her debut in Perth when she partners world No.75 Adam Pavlasek. The pair will open the first day of play at the tournament against the United States’ Jack Sock and Coco Vandeweghe.

Hradecka, 31, is an experienced doubles player who has won 21 doubles titles – including the US Open and French Open – and a French Open mixed doubles title.

In singles, her biggest win to date was against Ana Ivanovic in the first round of Australian Open 2015.

The right-hander has represented the Czech Republic at Fed Cup level since 2010 and in two Olympic Games. She holds one silver and bronze Olympic gold medal in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

“We wish Petra all the best with her recovery over the coming weeks and hope to see her on court in Australia soon,” Paul Kilderry, Hopman Cup Tournament Director, said today.

“We welcome Lucie Hradecka to Perth for the first time and look forward to watching her and Adam Pavlasek on day one at Perth Arena for the Czech Republic.”