By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, March 9, 2019
A defiant Venus Williams roared back from a one-set, double break deficit edging Petra Kvitova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, to reach the Indian Wells third round.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
On a night when Americans spring forward an hour, a valiant Venus Williams turned back time in Indian Wells.
Showing ferocious fight, the oldest woman in the draw battled back from a double break down in the second set and a break down in the decider out-dueling third-ranked Petra Kvitova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, to reach the Indian Wells third round.
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It was Williams' first win over a Top-5 ranked opponent since she stopped second-ranked Garbiñe Muguruza at the WTA Finals in October, 2017.
"Honestly, it seemed like I played even better when I was down," Williams told the media at Indian Wells. "I really didn't have any other choice because she was playing so well and serving so well. So it's nice to know that in that sort of situation I can still play and just lift my level."
Though her vaunted serve eluded her—Williams navigated some service games hitting first serves in the 80 MPH range and did not hit an ace—it was a vintage Venus fight against one of the few players in the world capable of hitting her off the court.
Down 3-4 in the decider, Williams burst through three straight games to close it exploiting a fortuitous net-cord for match point then digging in and guarding the baseline with vigilance drawing an error and erupting in a loud shout of pure elation. Indian Wells fans roared in support as the four-time Olympic gold-medal champion completed a stirring comeback and her most rewarding win of the season.
“The crowd was behind me to get to match point,” Williams told Andrew Krasny afterward. “She's been playing so well this year You never know what's gonna come off her racquet. I was happy to have (the crowd) energy and get pumped up. I just love the battle.”
The two-hour, 27-minute skirmish was a rollercoaster ride of shifting streaks that saw Kvitova overpower Williams for a set-and-a-half.
The third-seeded Czech more than doubled Williams’ winners—38 to 15—but scattered 56 unforced errors, including 10 double faults, and at times looked befuddled by Williams hitting off-pace serves followed by crackling groundstrokes.
An hour after the match, Kvitova as still at a loss to explain how she lost the lead in a “weird match.”
“Who knows? Well, it was such a weird match, to be honest,” Kvitova told the media in Indian Wells. “We started, I think, pretty nervous, both. I took the first set. Suddenly I was leading in the second, but some how I just gave her a chance again to be back in the match, and she took it.
“Suddenly, she just started to play better, I started to play worse, and that's why that happen to the third set, which I didn't break up, but I don't know. I was so frustrated with myself from the half of the second set to the end, which shouldn't happen to me. Yeah, I didn't have such a bad match this year like this one. I really played bad, and, yeah. I want to swear, but I will not.”
Kvitova was splattering winners at will at times. The left-hander broke for 5-4 then saved three break points sliding her fourth ace down the T to serve out the opening set in 43 minutes. Kvitova burst through five straight games to go up a set and double break on course for a straight-sets win.
The 39-year-old American calmly combated flat drives that buzzed her shoelaces, an apparent arm issue that sapped the sting from her serve and deficits in every set with ferocious fight.
Williams answered the one-set double-break deficit reeling off six of the next eight games.
“Honestly, I don't know what's working,” Williams said. “Sometimes, I'm winning points and sometimes I'm not. I think today I just fought and tried my hardest and waited for my opportunities and created them sometimes.”
Double faults betrayed Kvitova, who clanked a double fault to face a set point at 4-5 in the second set. She saved it with a body serve and backhand winner, eventually holding to level.
Two games later, Williams’ exploited a seventh Kvitova double fault. A jolting backhand return earned the veteran a second set point and when Kvitova sailed a forehand, Williams screamed “come on!” forcing a final set after 98 minutes of play.
The day after sister Serena dug out a gritty victory over Victoria Azarenka in a fierce night battle, Venus showed strong spirit, speedy legs and shrewd adjustments to topple the Australian Open finalist as faithful fans provided the inspired soundtrack to help her cross the finish line.
“I can feel it,” Williams said of the crowd. I think everybody felt those ups and downs with me. I can feel the collective sigh and collective roar—it’s unbelievable. I never what to let you down and I hope I can keep this going.”
Trying to hold her serve and ground, Williams was backed up by the Czech's drive and buried a backhand into net Kvitova broke for 4-3 with a shout.
Williams wasn't done.
The former No. 1 dragged successive errors from the Australian Open finalist breaking back for 4-all as Kvitova dropped to a squat in frustration.
Tension tightened as a Williams drive collided into the top of the tape and crawled over on Kvitova’s side for match point. When the two-time Wimbledon winner sailed a final shot, Williams celebrated with pure elation.
"Lots of great training and lots of good genetics," Venus said of the Williams sisters gritty wins on successive days. "I mean, Serena had a tough first round. Not easy. Definitely a tough one for Victoria, as well. You'd like to think she could get further in the draw if she could, you know, not have to play as many tough matches so early.
"But as for me, I don't know. Just trying to win my match no matter who is across the net."
Continuing her quest for a 50th career title, Williams will face compatriot Christina McHale for a spot in the round of 16. McHale battled by 30th-seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins broke serve five times in a 6-4, 6-1 sweep of Kirsten Flipkens.
The 25th-seeded Collins, who produced a break-out Indian Wells last year, advanced to a third-round meeting with either world No. 1 Naomi Osaka or Kristina Mladenovic.
Australian Open semifinalist Karolina Pliskova pumped 12 aces defeating Misaki Doi, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-1, to set up a third-round meeting with qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure.