Petra Kvitova has set up an exciting third round meeting with Aryna Sabalenka after the Czech Republican defeated Yafan Wang 7-5 6-3.
The two time grand slam champion started the match strongly as she used her big weapons to outgun her Chinese opponent. The fifth seed stormed into a 4-1 lead as she fired down the winners and looked like she was going to win in convincing fashion.
However the world number 90 wasn’t about to be overlooked as she began to settle back into the match as she started to force more errors out of Kvitova. The Chinese player had a bit more confidence about her and two breaks of serve later the set was back level at 4-4. The character of Kvitova was soon to be tested as she was suddenly missing a lot of forehands to her frustration.
However all great champions find a way when not playing their best tennis and there was enough mental fortitude for the world number five to believe she could win the set. Her belief would get her over the line as a third break of serve, sealed the first set as she converted fifth set point.
The momentum had swung dramatically in Kvitova’s favour as she now had the match in her control. The Czech Republican’s winners count amassed to 27 as she continued to dominate the rallies. The two breaks of serve was enough for the former Wimbledon champion as she secured victory over a deflated Wang in 1 hour and 48 minutes.
The contest was more competitive than anticipated but the Czech Republican showed great resilience to seal the win on another hot day. The fifth seed’s reward is an exciting match with New Haven winner Aryna Sabalenka after she defeated Vera Zvonareva 6-3 7-6(7). The big hitting Belarusian survived a second set scare to set up a brilliant match with Petra Kvitova.
In other results, Aliaksandra Sasnovich continued her fantastic season as she knocked out 11th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-2 7-6(3). The young Russian served for the second set twice and had set point but couldn’t hold her nerve as Sasnovich make the third round of the US Open for the first time. She will now play Naomi Osaka who thumped Julia Glushko in 50 minutes to make the last 32.
