Petra Kvitova easily clinches second Madrid Open crown in final
Czech’s powerful ground strokes broke ailing Russian rival Svetlana Kuznetsova; Rafael Nadal reaches final
Petra Kvitova eased to her second Madrid Open title when she beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 6-2 on Saturday.
Fourth-seeded Czech Kvitova hit powerful groundstrokes and broke her Russian rival four times to add the championship to her 2011 victory.
Kuznetsova, however, looked unwell and called for a physiotherapist twice, and was once visited on court by the tournament doctor.
I’m very happy. This week was vital for me, and being in the final is a superb bit of news for me
Just before the final game, Kuznetsova was allowed by the chair umpire to go to the dressing room, but received a mandatory time warning.
At the award presentation, Kuznetsova apologised in Spanish to the spectators that she had not been able to play a good match.
On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal reached his seventh final at the Madrid Open by defeating Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.
Yet to drop a set this week, Nadal will face either 2008 champion Andy Murray or last year’s finalist, Kei Nishikori, in the final on Sunday.
Nadal has won the last two Madrid Opens, and will attempt to win his fifth overall.