Kvitova comes out on top in seesaw encounter

Petra Kvitova became the first Czech player since Jana Novotna to reach a Wimbledon singles final as she upset fourth seed Victoria Azarenka yesterday in a rollercoaster match on Centre Court.

Kvitova, who also knocked Azarenka out of Wimbledon last year, stunned her opponent by racing through the first set in 26 minutes, but the Belarusian hit back straight away, breaking once to take the second set.

An immediate break in the final set gave Kvitova the advantage and Azarenka failed to respond, leaving the No 8 seed to claim her place in a first grand slam final with a 6-1 3-6 6-3 success.

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Novotna reached her third Wimbledon final in 1998, triumphing for the first time with victory over Nathalie Tauziat.

Azarenka had little trouble in swatting aside Tamira Paszek to reach the last four and she began in much the same form yesterday, earning a break point in the first game.

She could not capitalise on the opportunity though and the pendulum soon swung Kvitova’s way, as she broke her opponent after she sent a poor backhand long.

At 3-1 down, Azarenka thought she had earned a way back into the first set after pulling back to deuce from being 40-0 down, but even a two-minute break to stop an alarm outside the court could not prevent Kvitova holding.

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Azarenka, letting off her trademark screams with every shot, had no answer to Kvitova’s fierce returns and she was broken for a second time before the eighth seed took the set with three aces in the seventh game.

The form that had brought Kvitova the first set in such a punishing fashion appeared to desert her and Azarenka moved 2-0 up in the second after winning the first eight points.

Pumping her fist at every point won, Azarenka took Kvitova to the brink for a second time in the set, but the forehand she thought was a winner had crept marginally over the baseline.

Azarenka continued to win the baseline battle and could even afford to miss two break points on her way to clinching the second set 6-3.

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The topsy-turvy match took another twist at the start of the third set as Azarenka went to pieces again, losing her first service game of the set after going wide with a forehand.

Azarenka had a chance to break back immediately but over-hit a forehand for Kvitova to open up a 3-0 lead.

The Belarusian had another two break points in the fifth game after hitting a passing winner, but Kvitova rescued the game with a clever drop shot and an aggressive forehand at the net before a powerful ace from the Czech made it 4-1.

Azarenka looked nervous as she planted a shot into the net on her own serve in the sixth before recovering to stay one break behind her opponent.

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Kvitova’s coach and family then rose from their seats in joy as the world No 8 held her own serve to move 5-2 ahead and leave Azarenka serving to stay in the match.

Azarenka slammed the fourth point of the game into the net to give Kvitova match point, but she mis-timed a forehand wide.

A second opportunity came seconds later after Azarenka sent a forehand wide and the fourth seed buckled under pressure, double-faulting to send Kvitova through to the final where she will meet Maria Sharapova.

Kvitova said: “It’s something unbelievable, being in the final of Wimbledon.

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“I am surprised to be in the final. When I came here, I just wanted to play match after match and nothing more.”

Kvitova’s blistering serve proved key to her victory yesterday, reaching 113mph and landing nine aces on her way to victory.

Azarenka, who was playing in her first grand slam semi-final, thinks Kvitova can pull off a shock against Sharapova.

“I think she can beat anybody any day, because right now she has a really good game,” the Belarusian said of Kvitova.

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“If she plays like she played (yesterday) then I’m sure she will have every chance of winning.”

Azarenka was philosophical about her defeat.

“I’m not going to sit here and cry because I lost the match,” Azarenka said. “I am disappointed with the loss though. I have demanded a lot of myself but I have to keep working hard.

“I’m just going to go rest a little bit, regroup, and get ready for the hard court season. There is no other way.”

Petra Kvitova Factfile...

1990: Born in Bilovec, Czech Republic on March 8.

2007: July – Plays her first WTA main draw event in Stockholm.

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2008: April 14 – Reaches the world’s top 100 for the first time.

May: Progresses to the fourth round of the French Open, her first grand slam tournament.

October 20: Enters the world’s top 50.

2009: January – Wins first WTA title in Hobart.

May: Right ankle injury forces her withdrawal from the French Open.

2010: June – Reaches Wimbledon semi-final, losing 7-6 6-3 to Serena Williams.

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2011: January – Reaches quarter-final of the Australian Open, climbing into the world’s top 20 (up to No 18).

June: Finalist at Eastbourne.

July: Makes first grand slam final at Wimbledon by beating Victoria Azarenka 6-1 3-6 6-2.

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