Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FAIRYTALE OF NEW WORK
Lopez and Kvitova can hardly believe it after victories that mean so much
PETRA KVITOVA claimed her emotional victory at the Aegon Classic was a “fairytale” just six months after she was stabbed. And Feliciano Lopez said his dreams had come true by winning the biggest tournament of his career at Queen’s Club at the age of 35. Double Wimbledon champion Kvitova (above) suffered career-threatening injuries to her left hand during a robbery at her home in December that kept her out until last month’s French Open. But in only her second comeback event in Birmingham, the Czech lefthander fired down 13 aces as she beat Aussie Ashleigh Barty 4-6 6-3 6-2. Kvitova now rises to world No.12 and will be a serious contender in a wide-open Wimbledon women’s tournament. “It was an amazing week, an amazing tournament,” she said. “I didn’t expect this in my second tournament after my comeback. I think it’s kind of a fairytale. “This win definitely means more. I’ve been through a very difficult time in my life and it wasn’t about the tennis, but about to come back healthy and alive and move my fingers properly and everything like that. “And this is something clearly special. Sometimes people get stronger when anything bad happens. I got a little bit emotional in my last service game in the match. “But I’m happy that it came because it means a lot that I’m still able to play well after that. I have to say I’m proud of myself that I did it today.” Debonair Lopez, dubbed ‘Deliciano’ by the watching Judy Murray, won the Aegon Championship for the first time after taking a thrilling third-set tiebreak against Marin Cilic. The Spanish left-hander failed to break the world No.7’s serve and saved a match point before triumphing 4-6 7-6 7-6. Lopez, who lost the 2014 final at Queen’s Club, becomes the oldest winner here in the Open era. “I can’t believe I finally won it, I’ve been waiting for 15 or 16 years to hold this trophy,” said the Wimbledon No.19 seed. “It was a dream to win here. It’s the best week of my career. I am probably playing my best tennis. It is hard to believe when you are 35.” Marcus Willis plays world No.146 Andrej Martin of Slovakia in today’s first round of Wimbledon qualifying.