Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova's tennis career is under threat after she was stabbed in the hand while trying to defend herself from a burglar.

The 26-year-old Grand Slam winner underwent four hours of surgery after suffering "severe injuries" to her playing hand in Czech Republic.

She will now spend at least three months recovering, according to a spokesman.

Kvitova, world number 11, was attacked with a knife at her home in the city of Prostejov on Tuesday.

The Czech player said before undergoing surgery that the attack had left her "shaken, but fortunate to be alive".

She told fans of the horror encounter on Twitter, writing: "In my attempt to defend myself, I was badly injured on my left hand. 

"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."

Kvitova was attacked in her flat about 260 kilometres (160 miles) southeast of Prague.

She had been due to play a charity event in the Czech Republic's second biggest city Brno alongside compatriot Lucie Safarova later on Tuesday.

Police say the suspect, who reportedly took around £155, is on the run.

Kvitova's spokesman Karel Tejkal told Czech news agency CTK: "It was a random criminal act.

"She was assaulted in her apartment and is in the care of doctors, but her injuries are not life threatening."

Kvitova had been at home recovering from a stress fracture to her foot and recently withdrew from the Hopman Cup mixed-team tournament in January.

She turned professional in 2006 and has won 19 career singles titles, including Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014.

Czech-born tennis great Martina Navratilova said on Twitter: "Just finding out about Petra Kvitova and the awful stabbing and injury to her hand - pulling for you Petra."