KVITOVA PUTS AN END TO EUGENIE’S DREAM
CENTRE COURT was dressed up for the coronation of Eugenie Bouchard. Genie’s Army whooped as the starlet entered stage left clasping a bouquet of flowers, smiling warmly at her adoring fans. Even Buckingham Palace played their part, dispatching Princess Eugenie, the Canadian starlet’s namesake, to sit just feet behind the baseline in the front row of the Royal Box.
The unwilling participant in this production was Petra Kvitova, who destroyed a helpless Bouchard in a 55-minute exhibition of terrifyingly good tennis.
It was the shortest women’s final since 1983 when another Czech, Martina Navratilova, took 54 minutes to beat Andrea Jaeger, an American who has since become a nun.
Bouchard is unlikely to retire to the convent just yet, stating afterwards ‘I will never be satisfied, I want to play in many more Grand Slam finals.’
But she was no match for Kvitova, who was imperious in winning her second Wimbledon title. The world No 6 greeted victory by shutting her eyes momentarily, raising both arms towards her player’s box and laying flat on the lawn.
Kvitova’s ascent to the box to celebrate with her team was as straightforward as her victory, facilitated by the introduction of a ‘safety gate,’ which has removed the iconic scramble over the commentary box and into the stands. The emotion of the moment was not diminished for Kvitova or her father Jiri, who was in floods of tears as he was when she beat Maria Sharapova to win her only other Grand Slam title here in 2011.
‘He cries a lot actually,’ said Kvitova, ‘It’s nothing new, nothing special. Actually I think everyone was crying in my box, he wasn’t only one. I was crying, as well. I get that from my dad.
‘He has a birthday tomorrow, so I’m just glad that he has a nice present.’
When she woke yesterday morning, the 24-year-old was greeted by the word ‘bojd’ a Czech term meaning ‘come on,’ which her coach David Kotyza spelled out in kitchen roll on the front garden of the house she is staying at in Wimbledon.
The pair remained a professional partnership even as Kvitova struggled to recapture the promise she showed three years ago. His charge did not require much encouragement yesterday.
She broke Bouchard’s serve six times and won seven consecutive games to triumph 6-3, 6-0. Using her backhand as a tranquilizer dart and her forehand to deliver the fatal blow, Kvitova zapped the belief of the talented 20-year-old.
Even Kvitova’s movement, normally considered the weak point of her game, was superb as she chased down balls even she didn’t expect to reach.
‘I think maybe it was magic,’ said Kvitova. ‘A few shots were really incredible and I couldn’t believe I was getting there and then playing such an amazing shot back. I said to myself: “Oh my God this is good. I can really run and get everything back.”
‘This means maybe more than 2011 because I really played a great tournament here. I was ready for every match and I think that I’m more prepared to handle the pressure.’
The majority of the attention before the match had been focused on Bouchard, earmarked as ‘the next Maria Sharapova’ and who could potentially rival the Russian in both major titles and off-court earnings.
She did not suffer a fit of nerves and even broke Kvitova once in the first set but she admitted to being outplayed.
‘I think it’s a tough road to try to become as good as I want to be,’ she said, ‘I’m not going to win every single time. I think this was a good experience for me, my first Slam final.
‘It was a big moment walking out onto Centre Court for a final. You know, I have that experience now. I know what it feels like. It was very special. It was different. We were holding flowers instead of our
tennis bags. I just felt so grateful to be able to walk out on a stage and, you know, have a chance to perform and do what I love. It was nice to have Princess Eugenie there, I’m just sorry I couldn’t have put on a better show for her.’
The rain began to fall over SW19 just as the final point was concluded. The roof was shut on Centre Court and the players were led into the bowels of the building as the lawn was prepared for the trophy presentation. Bouchard, who won junior Wimbledon just two years ago, was led to the engraver’s room.
‘I was watching them work, wishing one day, dreaming that he’ll write my name somewhere,’ she said.
‘Maybe it’s a bit cruel but I didn’t ask questions. I was in there when I won the juniors. So I had flashbacks to that time. At that time I also got a picture with the men’s doubles winners which included the British man Jonny Marray. I think it’s fascinating.
‘There are some old pictures on the wall. You see these trophies. It’s like nothing else.’
Bouchard will go into the top 10 in the world for the first time next week, will take home £880,000 in prize money and stands to earn much more in endorsement deals. But presently her mind is on her living room in Montreal.
‘I’m just excited to spend a little time off, you know, with my family back home.
‘I’m going to spend a lot of time on my couch. That’s the first goal. I’m going to allow myself to have my favourite dessert after dinner.’
For the winner, the Venus Rosewater Dish and for the loser, a chocolate brownie. Sport can be cruel sometimes.