Kvitova powers to Wimbledon title

By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon Venue: All England Club, LondonDate: 20 June-3 JulyCoverage: Live on BBC One, Two, 3D, HD, Red Button, online (UK only), Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra; live text commentary from 0900 BST on BBC Sport website (#bbctennis); watch again on iPlayer Kvitova beats Sharapova in straight sets (UK only)

Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova outplayed former champion Maria Sharapova to win her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

The 21-year-old's shot-making ability proved too much for Sharapova in a 6-3 6-4 victory on Centre Court.

Kvitova is the first Czech since Jana Novotna in 1998 to win Wimbledon, and Novotna and former Czech great Martina Navratilova were in the Royal Box.

"It's hard to find some words," Kvitova told BBC Sport afterwards.

"I'm standing here with the trophy and I see some great players in the Royal Box. It's very nice that Martina Navratilova and Jana Novotna are watching me and have supported me all the time during the tournament and gave me some advice."

Kvitova overcame nerves to win at Wimbledon

In a final of eight breaks of serve, it was 2004 champion Sharapova who was under the greater pressure to hold - an issue she has struggled to deal with since coming back from shoulder surgery.

Sharapova suffered a rash of double faults in her French Open semi-final defeat by Li Na last month, and the attack-minded Kvitova was quickly on to any short deliveries.

The Czech was by far the less experienced of the finalists and three-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova looked ready to take advantage of that with an early break, but Kvitova levelled immediately with some piercing returns.

Continue reading the main story

It was two double faults in a row from Sharapova that shifted the balance of power decisively as it handed Kvitova a 4-2 lead, and although the Russian saved a set point with an ace it did not prevent her from losing the set.

In previous matches, Kvitova had lost concentration after some strong starts, but there was no sign of that when a breathtaking forehand winner down the line gave her a break at the start of the second set.

Sharapova, desperate to return to Grand Slam winning ways, fought back to level at 2-2 with a fine backhand lob and again at 3-3 with a fine return, but the 24-year-old fifth seed just could not get a foothold in her own service games.

She crumbled once again as Kvitova sent back a barrage of heavy returns, and when the Czech held for 5-3 she was almost there.

Sharapova did make her young opponent serve for the title but Kvitova played a nerveless game, moving to 40-0 and choosing championship point to send down her first ace of the day before sinking to the turf in triumph.

"Of course I was nervous in the final game but I hoped that I can win and I had to focus on each point, which was important," said Kvitova, before adding: "I think that was the best match I ever played."

Sharapova said: "Unfortunately there is only one winner at the end of day.

"I have had amazing support over so many years and to be back at this stage and holding the runners-up trophy - I wanted that big one and it's something I'm going to be back for and will get again."

Kvitova powers to crucial second set break

View the original article here

Kvitova blasts her way into final

By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon Venue: All England Club, LondonDate: 20 June - 3 JulyCoverage: Live on BBC One, Two, 3D, HD, Red Button, online (UK only), Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra; live text commentary from 0900 BST on BBC Sport website (#bbctennis); iPlayer Kvitova is the first Czech to reach the final since Jana Novotna in 1998 Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova produced a blistering display to beat Victoria Azarenka and reach her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon.

The 21-year-old left-hander, who lost to Serena Williams in the semi-finals last year, reeled off the winners as she came through 6-1 3-6 6-2.

Belarusian Azarenka, seeded fourth, was making her Grand Slam semi-final debut but could not contain Kvitova.

The Czech will play Maria Sharapova or Sabine Lisicki in Saturday's final.

Kvitova, who beat Azarenka in the third round at Wimbledon last year, is known for her shot-making ability and she made a blistering start on Centre Court, making 13 winners and breaking twice as the first set flew by in 27 minutes.

Continue reading the main story

The power and depth of the Czech's groundstrokes, and her ability to hit clean winners off both sides, left Azarenka reeling, but for all her her talent Kvitova remains inconsistent and her level dropped at the start of the second set.

After making only three unforced errors in the first, the mistakes began to creep in and Azarenka finally got a foothold in her opponent's service games.

Azarenka, 21, won the first six points to take control of the second set and would not relinquish that lead, pummelling her way to the set with a succession of backhands in game nine.

The Belarusian was the one playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final but the world number five has been a contender at the top level for some time now, and might have been expected to hold her nerve better in the decider.

It was her misfortune that the Kvitova of the early stages began to resurface with a love hold to open the set, before Azarenka buckled under more huge hitting to drop serve.

Kvitova had won the second set of their third-round clash 6-0 last year and she was on course for something similar at 3-0, but Azarenka slowed the Czech express in game five, only to miss two break-back points.

It was still a huge task for Kvitova to close it as she tried to become only the fourth Czech woman to reach the Wimbledon final after Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlikova and Jana Novotna, but she held her nerve as Azarenka's cracked.

With Navratilova watching from the Royal Box, Kvitova worked her way to two match points at 5-2 and was thankful to see Azarenka double-fault on the second.

"I can't say anything, I'm so happy," Kvitova told BBC Sport.

"I started very well, and it was all about the serves in both sets, so I'm very happy with mine in the third. I'm not thinking about the final too much yet."

View the original article here