Kvitova ends title drought
Kvitova ends title drought
October 2, 2016 | 12:05 AM
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic holds the trophy after winning the final of the WTA Wuhan Open Tennis Tournament in Wuhan, China, Saturday. — AFP
October 2, 2016 | 12:05 AM
Last Updated: October 2, 2016 | 12:05 AM
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Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic holds the trophy after winning the final of the WTA Wuhan Open Tennis Tournament in Wuhan, China, Saturday. — AFP[/caption]WUHAN, China — Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova ended her 13-month title drought with a straight set win over Dominika Cibulkova at the Wuhan Open Saturday.
The former world No. 2 appeared to be in a hurry to secure the crown — her second in Wuhan — taking just over an hour to defeat Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1.
Kvitova has had a year of stark highs and lows — scooping an Olympic bronze medal but failing to get further than the round of 16 at any of the Grand Slams.
The year began with a split from coach of seven years David Kotyza and she has since taken an unconventional approach to her game and paired back her time on the practice court.
“I just reduced the practices and I feel a little bit better, more in love with the tennis or something,” she said.
“I mean, without the practicing, it’s not possible. But I really need to find a balance, to have some time off to enjoy a day.”
After the run of early round exits at the start of the year, she appears to have turned the tide in China and the Wuhan title will see her move to 11th in the rankings when next week’s leaderboard is released Monday.
She also has an outside chance of qualifying for her fifth consecutive WTA Final in Singapore.
Cibulkova, meanwhile, is assured of a new career-high ranking Monday — rising to number eight.
She also now sits at No. 7 on the Road to Singapore leaderboard but needs a strong run in Beijing next week to guarantee her first ever qualification in the elite eight-player event.
“I’m not thinking about Singapore that much because that would be a dream come true if I would get there,” said Cibulkova.
Both Kvitova and Cibulskova now travel to Beijing for the China Open where they have first round byes.
Pliskova wins 1st WTA title
Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic won her first WTA tournament Saturday at the Tashkent Open, beating defending champion Nao Hibino of Japan in the final.
Pliskova fired in 10 aces on her way to a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over the fourth-seeded Hibino, who was aiming to become the first woman to retain the Tashkent title.
World No. 100 Pliskova is the identical twin sister of sixth-ranked Karolina Pliskova but has struggled to match her more famous sibling’s achievements to date, though they have had some success together in doubles.
Romania’s Raluca Olaru and Turkey’s Ipek Soylu won the Tashkent doubles title. The fourth-seeded pair beat third-seeded Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands and Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3.
Berdych-Gasquet final
Defending champion Tomas Berdych fired nine aces and defeated Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 7-5 in the Shenzhen Open semifinals Saturday.
The top-seeded Czech converted four of 10 break chances in beating his Brazilian opponent.
Berdych faces Richard Gasquet in Sunday's final.
Third-seeded Gasquet was leading 6-2, 4-1 in the other semifinal when Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia was forced to retire with a groin injury.
Kerber set for China Open
New world No. 1 Angelique Kerber said Saturday that she was focused on her “weapon” as she hits the court in Beijing for the China Open.
“At the end you are trying to (be focused) more on your weapon, on your game, than on the weapon from your opponents,” she told reporters in Beijing Saturday.
The two-time Grand Slam champion flew to Beijing from Wuhan where she was ousted in the third round in an epic three-and-a-half hours match by eventual champion Petra Kvitova.
The German — who ended veteran Serena Williams’ 186-week run as No. 1 in September — will face a qualifier in the first round of the China Open’s main draw.
Defending China Open champion Garbine Mugaruza meets Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu in the opening round.
Meanwhile, Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig crashed out of the first round — her second consecutive first round exit — to Belgium Yanina Wickmayer 6-2, 6-0.
On the men’s side, world No. 1 and six-time China Open winner Novak Djokovic is not in Beijing to defend his almost flawless China Open record.
An elbow injury has forced the 12-time Grand Slam champion to pull out, opening the door for Andy Murray who sat out the tournament last year.
The men’s main draw starts Monday.
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic holds the trophy after winning the final of the WTA Wuhan Open Tennis Tournament in Wuhan, China, Saturday. — AFP[/caption]WUHAN, China — Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova ended her 13-month title drought with a straight set win over Dominika Cibulkova at the Wuhan Open Saturday.
The former world No. 2 appeared to be in a hurry to secure the crown — her second in Wuhan — taking just over an hour to defeat Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1.
Kvitova has had a year of stark highs and lows — scooping an Olympic bronze medal but failing to get further than the round of 16 at any of the Grand Slams.
The year began with a split from coach of seven years David Kotyza and she has since taken an unconventional approach to her game and paired back her time on the practice court.
“I just reduced the practices and I feel a little bit better, more in love with the tennis or something,” she said.
“I mean, without the practicing, it’s not possible. But I really need to find a balance, to have some time off to enjoy a day.”
After the run of early round exits at the start of the year, she appears to have turned the tide in China and the Wuhan title will see her move to 11th in the rankings when next week’s leaderboard is released Monday.
She also has an outside chance of qualifying for her fifth consecutive WTA Final in Singapore.
Cibulkova, meanwhile, is assured of a new career-high ranking Monday — rising to number eight.
She also now sits at No. 7 on the Road to Singapore leaderboard but needs a strong run in Beijing next week to guarantee her first ever qualification in the elite eight-player event.
“I’m not thinking about Singapore that much because that would be a dream come true if I would get there,” said Cibulkova.
Both Kvitova and Cibulskova now travel to Beijing for the China Open where they have first round byes.
Pliskova wins 1st WTA title
Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic won her first WTA tournament Saturday at the Tashkent Open, beating defending champion Nao Hibino of Japan in the final.
Pliskova fired in 10 aces on her way to a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over the fourth-seeded Hibino, who was aiming to become the first woman to retain the Tashkent title.
World No. 100 Pliskova is the identical twin sister of sixth-ranked Karolina Pliskova but has struggled to match her more famous sibling’s achievements to date, though they have had some success together in doubles.
Romania’s Raluca Olaru and Turkey’s Ipek Soylu won the Tashkent doubles title. The fourth-seeded pair beat third-seeded Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands and Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3.
Berdych-Gasquet final
Defending champion Tomas Berdych fired nine aces and defeated Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 7-5 in the Shenzhen Open semifinals Saturday.
The top-seeded Czech converted four of 10 break chances in beating his Brazilian opponent.
Berdych faces Richard Gasquet in Sunday's final.
Third-seeded Gasquet was leading 6-2, 4-1 in the other semifinal when Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia was forced to retire with a groin injury.
Kerber set for China Open
New world No. 1 Angelique Kerber said Saturday that she was focused on her “weapon” as she hits the court in Beijing for the China Open.
“At the end you are trying to (be focused) more on your weapon, on your game, than on the weapon from your opponents,” she told reporters in Beijing Saturday.
The two-time Grand Slam champion flew to Beijing from Wuhan where she was ousted in the third round in an epic three-and-a-half hours match by eventual champion Petra Kvitova.
The German — who ended veteran Serena Williams’ 186-week run as No. 1 in September — will face a qualifier in the first round of the China Open’s main draw.
Defending China Open champion Garbine Mugaruza meets Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu in the opening round.
Meanwhile, Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig crashed out of the first round — her second consecutive first round exit — to Belgium Yanina Wickmayer 6-2, 6-0.
On the men’s side, world No. 1 and six-time China Open winner Novak Djokovic is not in Beijing to defend his almost flawless China Open record.
An elbow injury has forced the 12-time Grand Slam champion to pull out, opening the door for Andy Murray who sat out the tournament last year.
The men’s main draw starts Monday.
