By Chris Oddo | Sunday February 18, 2018
Petra Kvitova battled past Garbine Muguruza in three sets to claim her 13th consecutive match win at the Qatar Total Open.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
When she catches fire, there simply is no stopping Petra Kvitova. Not even an in-form and (for the most part) healthy Garbiñe Muguruza was up to the task on Sunday as Kvitova stormed back from a set down to win her 13th consecutive match and claim the Qatar Total Open title in Doha, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
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“I’m pretty proud of myself how I managed to play in the outdoor conditions against a great player like Garbiñe today,” Kvitova said in an on-court interview. “It was a really tough match and a big fight and hopefully people enjoyed the match as well.”
With two straight titles, former World No.2 Kvitova moves back into the WTA’s top 10 for the first time since 2016. The Czech, who took time away from the game after suffering a knife attack by a burglar and related hand surgery to her racquet wielding hand, has been a true inspiration on tour since beginning her comeback last year at Roland Garros. She has dealt with her difficult fate with dignity and provided the perfect example of how to cope with adversity while simultaneously recapturing her scintillating form. .
It was a battle from start to finish on Sunday. Kvitova won less than half of her service points in the opening set and could not come back from an early deficit, but the Czech stiffened her resolve after falling behind and saved each of the seven break points she faced over the final two sets.
The 27-year-old has now won four straight against Muguruza, but the Spaniard made it difficult for her rival as she stayed within a break of Kvitova in the second and third set despite needing some heavy strapping on her left knee later in the match.
Kvitova broke for 3-2 in set three moments before Muguruza called for the trainer, but she showed no ill effects of the injury, which occurred on the final point of the fifth game when Muguruza got her footwork twisted up prior to hitting a forehand.
Muguruza earned a break point in the next game that Kvitova saved, and she didn’t buckle while serving at 2-4, as she bravely saved two break points to stay in striking distance.
But it was not meant to be for Muguruza on this day. Kvitova served out the final game without drama, closing affairs in two hours and 16 minutes to claim her 22nd career title.
In addition to the inspirational quality of her rise up the rankings, the sheer numbers of what Kvitova has managed to do during her winning streak are jaw-dropping. She has won six straight matches against Top 10 opposition, including three Top 5 wins at Doha. On Saturday, with her win over No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, Kvitova improved to 5-4 against reigning No.1s.
Clearly, when she’s playing this well, Kvitova as good as anybody in the world. It will be interesting how long she can keep her fantastic form up, and one wonders if one day she can win more majors or even challenge for the No.1 ranking—something she has been close to but never achieved.
For now, fans will have to be content with the fact that Kvitova is very much back to being a force in the game, and back in the Top 10. It’s no use to overthink it. Tennis can be a fickle mistress, and Kvitova is ready to deal with the victories as well as the losses.
A year ago the two-time Wimbledon champion had not yet made her way back to tennis after her tragic accident. Today, she’s thankful, not for the victory but for the support.
“I could not really dream of it,” said Kvitova. “It’s a very special feeling to be back—I’m not there without my team, without my coaches without my family and friends, so I’m very grateful for them to have them by my side every time.”