#PetraKvitova put up yet another masterclass at the 2019 #AustralianOpen, stunning the home crowd when she stormed past home favourite and 15th seed #AshleighBarty in the quarterfinals under the lights of Rod Laver Arena. The Czech eased through to the semifinal stage without losing a set, triumphing in five consecutive matches with an average timing of just an hour and six minutes, losing just 22 games in the process.
Kvitova was simply flawless in her display, firing 25 winners to 24 unforced errors to defeat Barty and overpower the Australian. The 15th seed struggled to deal with Kvitova’s power, and was limited to just eight winners as she committed 17 unforced errors throughout the entirety of the match.
Kvitova grabs the perfect first set
After starting the match in the best possible way, firing five winners in the opening two games, Kvitova found herself leading by an early break as Barty failed to dictate the points. She had the golden opportunity to break straight back, but Kvitova rose to the occasion and fired a big forehand winner to pave the way for her to consolidate her advantage.
Barty finally got onto the scoreboard with a spirited hold from 0-30 down in the fourth game, although that would be the only positive aspect of her first set for the crowd favourite as Kvitova ultimately stormed to take the first set 6-1 after a quick 27 minutes of action.
Kvitova seals the huge win
Barty had the confidence-boosting start to the second set, finding her monstrous serves to claim the opening game of the new set with an ace. Kvitova soon found herself in real trouble for the first time in the match, being forced to save a break point with consecutive well-placed aces, ultimately sealing the game with multiple forehand winners.
Barty seemed to be in complete control as Kvitova was pushed to the back fence once again, this time saving another break point to hold serve. Multiple love service holds followed, but a loose game from the Australian in the ninth game saw Kvitova go all out and be the aggressor, claiming the sole break of the set. She dutifully completed her job, successfully serving out the match after just 68 minutes of action.
What they said: Kvitova reflects on huge win, Barty delighted with breakthrough
During her on-court interview, Kvitova teared up when she was asked about her feelings after reaching her first Major semifinal since the life-threatening knife attack back in 2016. “It wasn't really easy for me to kind of see myself being in a semifinal after everything. I always wanted to come back and play on the highest level I can, compete with the best, play the Grand Slams, actually be very deep in the Grand Slam, which is happening. Yeah, it just took me a bit to the tears, but it was happy tears, for sure.”
As things currently stand, Kvitova is also the provisional world number one and she is in the driving seat to top the rankings if she finishes a round further than Naomi Osaka. However, the Czech was quick to downplay the ranking, “I think you know me, guys. I’m not really looking to the ranking. Actually that’s the first time what I’m hearing this. I don’t really care, to be honest.”
“Petra was certainly on song tonight and took the match away from me,” Barty was full of praise for her opponent amidst the defeat, highlighting the fact that Kvitova was just too strong today. “Today Petra was outstanding, she really was. She took it away from me quite early in the match. She’s very capable of doing that, I suppose.”
Making her maiden Major quarterfinal, Barty is definitely hungry for more success in the future following her breakthrough in front of her home crowd. “Yeah, I mean, obviously once you get a taste of it, you’re always hungry for more. I’ve always been extremely driven and passionate, especially coming back this second time around, about how I’ve wanted to go about things.”
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