Kvitova fights back from bad start to retain title

PETRA Kvitova hit back from a set down to beat Magdalena Rybarikova and retain her Nature Valley Classic title in Birmingham.

The double Wimbledon champion had reached t he final without dropping a set but was made to work by the Slovakian, who won the Birmingham title in 2009.

But after dropping a tight opening set, Kvitova turned on the style to record a 4-6 6-1 6-2 victory in just over two hours.

Like Kvitova, Rybarikova has fine grass-court pedigree having reached last year’s Wimbledon semi-finals, and it showed in the opener as she seized the advantage.

Rybarikova twice broke the Kvitova serve in the opening set and looked a strong candidate to claim the fourth WTA tour title of her career.

But Kvitova proved a different proposition for the remainder of the match, breaking twice in the second set whilst only having to save a single break point against her serve.

And despite being broken in the decider, Kvitova responded by breaking Rybarikova three more times to wrap up what ultimately proved to be a convincing win.

JAMIE Murray and Bruno Soares were unable to make it back-to-back Queen’s titles as they were beaten in the doubles final.

Murray and Soares, who were winners in 2017, lost 6-4 6-3 in the Fever-Tree Championships to John Peers and Henri Kontinen.

They had taken the long route to the final, having to win a champions tiebreak in each of their previous three rounds, but their luck ran out.

Marin Cilic celebrates his Queen’s Club win yesterday.