Women’s game is powered to new era by Kvitova

The 21-year-old Czech produced a stunning display of power-hitting to defeat Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-4 and strike a first grand slam blow for the new generation.

Kvitova, the first player born in the 1990s to win a slam, appeared nerveless in her maiden final, swinging freely and crashing winner after winner past Sharapova before clinching victory with an ace on her first match point.

The eighth seed said: “I was like before a normal match. We said with the coaches that I was playing in the fourth round.

“I was surprised how I was feeling on the court because I was focused only on the point and on the game and not on the final and the medal. So I’m so happy for that.”

Kvitova was watched from the Royal Box by Martina Navratilova and Jana Novotna, both Czech former winners of the title, and she struggled to describe what joining them meant to her.

She said: “I spoke with them. They were so happy. I cried after I met them. It’s still an unbelievable feeling.

“Maybe I’ll accept it after – I don’t know – some days.”

Kvitova burst on to the scene 12 months ago with a surprise run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, and pushed eventual champion Serena Williams hard.

That experience helped the 21-year-old hugely and, after three WTA Tour titles this season, she returned to the All England Club with a different mindset.

Kvitova said: “Last year I didn’t have many chances to win. Serena played so well.

“I was young and I didn’t think that I could beat her. (On Saturday) I felt that I could win.

“I like finals and I like the big matches. Last year I had experience from the semi-final.

“This year I played well in the semi-final. So I believed that I could play very well in the final, and I did.”

Things got off to an inauspicious start for Kvitova when Sharapova, looking to reclaim the title she won as a 17-year-old in 2004, broke serve in the opening game.

But the eighth seed hit straight back and she gained a crucial break in the sixth game when Sharapova’s suspect serve faltered once again.

The Russian had served 13 double faults in her semi-final win over Sabine Lisicki and two more handed Kvitova the game. She had no trouble serving out for the set and then edged ahead in the second with another break.

Sharapova is a renowned fighter and she responded to draw level at 2-2 but the fifth seed just could not keep holding serve. Kvitova broke again, Sharapova hit back, but when the Czech made it four consecutive breaks there was no way back.

Kvitova always felt she would have chances against Sharapova, and she said: “It was about the serve and the return. I knew that she returns very well, but I knew that I can return her serve also. I knew that she makes some double faults.”

Kvitova’s left-handed serve proved a big weapon, and Sharapova admitted she had simply been out-hit.

The Russian said: “She used that to her advantage a lot.

“She was hitting really powerfully and hitting winners from all over the court.

“She made a defensive shot into an offensive one.

“I think she was just more aggressive than I was, she hit deeper and harder, and got the advantage in the points. Sometimes it’s just too good.”

Six double faults certainly did not help Sharapova but she did not think that was the decisive factor.

“I think there were a lot of things that I could have done better besides the serve,” said Sharapova. “When we were in the points, I wouldn’t say I won every single point.”

It was a first grand slam final for Sharapova since the shoulder problems that interrupted her career in 2008 and prompted questions whether she would ever hit her previous heights again.

This season has certainly been a huge step in the right direction, even if Saturday was not the culmination she would have hoped for. Sharapova added: “I love playing on this stage. As a tennis player, I guess that’s the dream, to be playing in the final stages of the grand slams and obviously hoping to win them.

“I would have loved to turn that match around, but it didn’t happen today. Maybe it will happen tomorrow.

“Besides the fact that I lost, I think this is a big step for me. I feel like I’m improving this year. That gives me a tremendous amount of confidence for the rest of the year.”

Sharapova’s wait goes on. She will be 25 next year – far from a veteran yet, of course. But Saturday saw the coronation of a player belonging to an exciting new generation, of which she is the first to land a grand slam. Next in line could be the likes of Caroline Wozniacki or Victoria Azarenka. Kvitova has broken down the barrier and they should hurry through behind her.

There was no Williams sister in the final for only the second time this century, and while the women’s game has not quite entered a post-Williams era, their dominant days may be over.

Watching from the Royal Box was an array of past winners of the Venus Rosewater Dish – 25 Wimbledon singles titles between Angela Barrett, Maria Bueno, Lindsay Davenport, Billie Jean King, Martina Hingis, Ann Jones, Amelie Mauresmo, Virginia Wade – and the two Czech-born players, Navratilova and Novotna.

Sharapova looked almost ready to blub on Sue Barker’s shoulder in a reprise of Novotna’s famous 1993 waterworks scene.

But Kvitova had smiles to spare, the left-hander with the thoroughly modern game and endearingly modest nature blowing a kiss to Navratilova, who waved back.

Kvitova, who has bucked a popular trend among eastern European players by staying at home rather than moving to America, does not have the English-speaking ability of the fluent Russian.

It adds to the charm. She said: “It’s hard to find words standing here with the trophy, seeing great names in the Royal Box.”