Czech Tennis Association president Ivo Kaderka was struggling to come to terms with the knife attack on Petra Kvitova that left the two-time Wimbledon champion with a severe hand injury.
Kvitova underwent surgery to repair damaged tendons and nerves on Tuesday after she was attacked by an intruder with a knife in her apartment in Prostejov.
The 26-year-old Czech will now miss the first gram slam of 2017, the Australian Open, and Kaderka hit out at the attacker as he called for guns to be distributed in a form of self-defense.
"I'm absolutely shocked and terribly shaken," Kaderka said.