Petra Kvitova displayed why she’s the reigning Wimbledon champion on Wednesday when she came through a tough quarterfinal battle with Sara Errani of Italy.
The champions in the game find a way to win even when struggling. And that’s exactly what the No. 2 seed did to come up with a 6-4, 6-4 victory to reach her third career Grand Slam semifinal. Her previous two semifinal showings were at Wimbledon in 2010 and 2011.
“Of course, I’m really like to be here in the semifinal in the Australian,” said Kvitova, who always seems placid off the court. “Of course, I want to win the semifinals, too. I try my best, as always. Hopefully, it will be a nice match.”
The quarterfinal match featured a host of service breaks. Kvitova scored on six of 14 break point opportunities, while the No. 48 Errani was successful on four of 11 break point chances.
“Actually, the beginning I was a little nervous because I knew that everybody expect it will be easy match,” Kvitova said. “Probably I had in my head that’s it’s good draw. But, anyway, Sara played very well and she was great. She had a great tournament here.”
The first three games of the match saw service breaks, resulting with Kvitova serving at 2-1 up a break. They exchanged later breaks in the set, but Kvitova was able to serve for the opening set at 5-4.
In the second set, Errani showed impressive form to go ahead to a 4-1 lead, but she couldn’t hold onto the advantage to force a third set. Kvitova mounted her comeback by winning the next five games to take the match.
“I had to wait for the time when I go for winners,” said Kvitova, of regaining control of the second set. “Yeah, the mistakes were really lower, and that was the key in the second set.”
The victory at Wimbledon has brought changes to Kvitova. Painfully shy, it seems that she doesn’t really relish the notoriety that comes along with being a champion. But in terms of tennis, she’s become more confident with her game by virtue of that victory.
“It’s a lot of positive,” Kvitova said. “Of course, you have a little pressure on your back because you have a Grand Slam and everybody is expecting that you win all matches when you play. But it’s not really easy. That’s why I’m happy to be in the semifinal here.”
The semifinal will present Kvitova with another outing against Maria Sharapova, who took care of fellow Russian and surprise quarterfinalist Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3. In case anyone out there has forgotten, it was Sharapova that Kvitova beat 6-3, 6-4 in the finals to win Wimbledon.
Before Sharapova booked her semifinal date with Kvitova, the Czech seemed nonplussed regarding who she will play: “If I am playing Makarova, Sharapova, it doesn’t matter. I have to play my game as always and be aggressive, but not really hectic, and be focused on every point and it’s easy.”
Another subject that Kvitova didn’t want to tackle was the world No. 1 ranking which is up for grabs. Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka and Sharapova all have an opportunity to move to the top of the ranking charts dependent on how the last two rounds shake out here at Melbourne Park.
Clearly, she was aware of the math that put her in the No. 1 hunt, but she shut down the conversation: “I mean it’s the chance for three of us. So, I mean, really it’s nothing to talk right now.”
She wouldn’t even say if being No. 1 is an important achievement for her to attain: “Ask me after,” was her response. Don’t worry Petra, whether you become No. 1 or not, the international media will be asking.
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