KVITOVA TAKES QATAR TITLE
PETRA KVITOVA fought back from a set down against Garbine Muguruza yesterday to win the Qatar Open, a victory which will take her back into the world’s top 10. Kvitova overcame an awful start which saw her lose the first five games to eventually triumph 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. It is the first time Kvitova has been ranked among the world’s elite since a horrific knife attack at her home in December 2016 left her with an injured hand. “It feels great, it’s a beautiful trophy,” she said. “It took a while to have it. Today, it was a big fight.” Asked about being back in the top 10, Kvitova replied: “I remember sometime last year when I was asked about this, I couldn’t even dream of it,” she said. “It’s a very special feeling to be back.” The win in Doha is the Czech star’s second title of the season and 22nd career tournament victory. It also extended her current winning streak to 13 matches, just one short of her career record. Despite the defeat, Muguruza will move up one position in the rankings, making her the world No. 3.
lost in the final of the US Open in New York last September – expressed delight at bucking a trend which has seen him lose in 11 finals before yesterday. “I’ve been to quite a few finals and if it doesn’t go your way it’s pretty tough to deal with,” Anderson said. “It means a lot to me that I was able to come through it today.”
‘SCRAP T20 INTERNATIONALS’
ENGLAND COACH Trevor Bayliss has called for Twenty20 matches to be cut from the international calendar to ease the burden on top players and coaches. Speaking after his side failed to qualify for the trans-Tasman T20 series final in New Zealand, Bayliss questioned the wisdom of retaining the format at the top level. Instead, he suggested administrators could ease international fixture congestion by leaving T20 to domestic competitions such as India’s IPL and the Australian Big Bash League. “I wouldn’t play T20 internationals, I’d just let the franchises play,” Bayliss told Sky Sports. “If we continue putting on so many games there’ll be a certain amount of blowout, not just players but coaches as well.” The Australian, who has coached in both the IPL and BBL, said any international T20s should be held in a limited window based around the ICC’s T20 World Cup. “If you want to play a World Cup every four years or whatever it is, maybe six months before you get the international teams and let them play some T20 internationals,” he said. Bayliss announced last month that he would step down as England coach when his four-year contract ends next year.