WTA: Kvitova defeats Wozniacki in semi-final thriller

Petra Kvitova is in the final of the WTA premier event in Doha: The Czech defeated the world’s number one Caroline Wozniacki in three sets and will face the Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in the final.

Wozniacki won the first set 6:3 and also started with a break in the second set. Kvitova, however, did not only return to 3-3, but also won Wozniacki’s service game for the 5-5, with which the Dane could have ended the match.

Kvitova and Wozniacki had made a strong start in the current campaign, especially the world number one from Denmark with their success at the Australian Open. Kvitova, for her part, won the tournament in St. Peter’s. Petersburg, but again had to give up their 5:6 serve in the second set in Doha. Took the re-break again. In the short game, the two-time Wimbledon winner turned a 3-1 deficit into a 6-3 draw, and after a great rally, she equalized the set.

In the deciding set it was Kvitova who took the lead with 5:4 and a break. And also failed to bring home the victory. It’s good for the left-hander that she took Wozniacki’s serve back to 6:5. This time Kvitova kept her nerves intact – and after a little more than two and a half hours she was happy about her fourth win against Wozniacki in series.

Both players had made it into the final round after their first set against German women: Kvitova benefited from Julia Görges’ loss due to a hip injury after winning the first set, Wozniacki had won against Angelique Kerber in three sets.

Kvitova will face Garbine Muguruza on Sunday in the final against Garbine Muguruza, who made it into the final without a fight (Simona Halep could not make it to the semi-finals) to reach her 22nd place. Tournament triumph. The Spaniard, the ruling Wimbledon winner, plays for title number six. In a direct comparison it’s 3:1, the last match was won by Kvitova – in a high-class match at the US Open 2017.

Here is the single panel in Doha