Kvitova picks Prague prize
Prague, May 5: Petra Kvitova won her third title of the year as she fought back from a set down to beat Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu 4- 6, 6- 2, 6- 3 in the Prague Open final on Saturday.
The Czech second seed got off to a flying start and took a 4- 1 lead in the opening set but Buzarnescu battled back to break Kvitova’s dominance, winning the next five games to clinch the set.
Kvitova roared back in front of a raucous home crowd, using her powerful forehand to pin Buzarnescu back in the second set and broke the Romanian’s serve three times to force a decider.
The two- times Wimbledon champion, who was missed the Prague event last year due to a hand injury, maintained her momentum to win her home tournament in her first appearance in it.
The 28- year- old left- hander added to her triumphs in Petersburg and Doha this season.
Buzarnescu fell to a second WTA final defeat after losing out at the Hobart International final Belgian Elise Mertens.
World number 10 Kvitova has little time to celebrate as she plays Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in the Madrid Open first round to on Sunday, two before the start French Open.
Meanwhile Estoril, Portugal, Stefanos Tsitsipas swept the last seven points of the match to defeat Roberto Carballes Baena 6- 7 ( 2/ 7), 6- 2, 7- 6 ( 7/ 3) for a place in the semi- finals.
The 19- year- old Greek, a surprise finalist last weekend in Barcelona against Rafael Nadal, will aim for his second straight title match as he takes on Portuguese number one Joao Sousa, who beat British third seed Kyle Edmund 6- 3, 1- 6, 6- 0.
The 44th- ranked Tsitsipas recovered from 0- 3 down in the final- set tiebreaker, erasing the deficit and sprinting to a victory that was sealed when his 77th- ranked opponent drove a return long. The battle between first- time opponents lasted nearly two and three- quarter hours. in weeks of the