WTA Madrid: Petra Kvitova wins final thriller against Kiki Bertens

Petra Kvitova has won the WTA Mandatory Event in Madrid against Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands. In the final, the Czech won in one match in three sets.

The Dutch-Czech duel for the title in Madrid left nothing to be desired from the outset and both players seemed highly motivated.

The first two games were long with break points Kvitova and Bertens, but they could not take their chances at first. Then it was again Kvitova who worked out two break points at the score of 2:2 and again left the lead. The spectators in the Caja Magica were spoiled with great and aggressive tennis.

As is so often the case, the unused chances were right and Bertens in return managed the first break of the game to lead 4:2. However, Kvitova did not let herself be shaken off by the Dutch woman and replied with the immediate re-break. The two-time Grand Slam winner found her way into the game and forced Bertens to play.

A tight game developed, in which a tiebreak was to bring the decision in the first set. Despite 15 unforced mistakes on the backhand, it was Kvitova who won the first round 7:6 (6).

In the second set, too, the final match was tight and Bertens stayed on despite the setback after the lost first set and played great tennis. At 3:3 Bertens pushed her opponent far behind the baseline and rewarded herself for her courageous performance with a break to lead. The Dutch woman then kept her nerve and served for a 6-4 equaliser.

Kvitova in particular gave Bertens some chances at the beginning of the set and could have reduced the serve by the dozen. Slight mistakes and hasty returns cost the Czech the overdue preliminary decision.

Nevertheless, the Czech remained aggressive and took the well-earned 4-2 break and in return caught the re-break. It went back and forth, the spectators got a great fight in the full arena and both players went to their limits. With 7:6 (6) and 6:3 Kvitova finally secured her third title in the Spanish capital after two hours and 54 minutes of play.