Petra Kvitova cruised past Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1 6-2 in 66 minutes to reach the second final of her career at the Sydney International in a rain-delayed late night match.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova avenged her 6-4 4-6 6-0 defeat against Sain the first round at Wimbledon last summer with a convincing 6-1 6-2 win in a late night Sydney semifinal, which was delayed by rain until midnight local time.
Kvitova came back from 0-40 down with a series of backhands to break serve in the second game. The 2015 Sydney champion saved three break points in the fifth game to hold serve for 4-1. She got her double break on her fourth opportunity at deuce in the sixth game after two dueces with three backhands to race out to a 5-1 lead and served out the first set at 30 in the next game after 30 minutes.
Kvitova hit a backhand pass to hold serve for 1-1 in the second game of the second set. The former world number 2 brought up a break point with a spectacular return winner in the fifth game and got the break on her third opportunity. Kvitova went up a double break to a 5-2 after forehand errors from Sasnovich and sealed the win on her third match point with her serve.
Kvitova hit 22 winners to 13 unforced errors and won more than 80 percent of her first serve points.
“It was worth the wait, definitely. I am really glad that we were able to get back on the court and play. I am happy for that, definitely, being in the final. Such a great achievement for me so far in the beginning of the season. So I am only taking everything positively. I think I really played a great match today. I lost to her in Wimbledon last year, so I know that she is a very dangerous player”,said Kvitova.
Kvitova set up a final showdown against Ashleigh Barty of the 2017 Birmingham final. In the British tournament on grass Kvitova came back from one set down to beat Barty 4-6 6-3 6-2. Kvitova will play her second Sydney final after winning the title in 2015.
“Ash is great. She is a very talented player with great touch. It will be a nice one tomorrow. It’s a final, so whatever happens, happens. I think she is really in good form. She is playing so well here in the tournament as well. It will be a nice match. I will need to find a space to find a space to put the balls and I can just play aggressive. That’s what I am playing”, said Kvitova.
