Sharapova Outlasts Kvitova for Beijing Title

October 6, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Maria Sharapova won yet another three-set battle on Sunday, defeating the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 to capture the China Open title. The Russian reached the final without dropping a set, and seemed to be on the way to another straight-setter as she took the opening set 6-4. Kvitova responded very nicely though, ripping 15 winners in the second frame to even the tilt at one set a piece.

“It was a bit of an up-and-down match I’d say—maybe not the best out of the tournament,” said Sharapova. “But it’s never easy playing against Petra. You don’t always quite get a good rhythm. She goes for a lot of shots, very deep, and she’s a very good, confident player.”

With each player dominating a set through the first two, the match would come down to would be able to outlast the other. Sharapova jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third after a key break point put momentum on her side of the court.

After squandering a match point at 5-2, Sharapova hit a hard serve which forced a Kvitova backhand to land short at the end, sealing the victory for Sharapova.

“I knew she’d been on a roll in the last couple of weeks. It’s probably the toughest opponent you can face in a final, that’s had success, yet you just want to focus on your side, what you do best,” said Sharapova. “She became the more aggressive player in the second set. I think I took a few too many steps back and let her play that way. But I was able to lift my game again in the third and come out with a win.”

Fatigue may have played a factor for Kvitova. She went all the way in Wuhan, playing all week and capturing the title in a city that is known as one of China’s “oven cities” because of the heat. She then played all week in Beijing and into a third-set in the tournament’s final.

“Yeah, I was tired, but it was a final, and every time I’m playing a final, I’m giving everything I have inside,” said Kvitova. “What I did today was a great battle. It was small things and small points that made the difference in the end. I had some chances, but Maria just didn’t let them go.”

The title is the fourth of the year for Sharapova, tying her with Ana Ivanovic for second-most on the tour. She jumps from number four to number two in the world rankings, while Kvitova slips to number four.

Both players will be in Singapore for the WTA Finals at the end of the month.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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