Kvitova wins Doha final to return to Top 10

[February 19, 2018]  Just eight-plus months after returning from a vicious knife attack, Petra Kvitova is back in the Top 10.

Kvitova recovered from a slow start to post a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain on Sunday to win the Qatar Total Open final at Doha.

The 16th-seeded Kvitova dropped the first five games of the match before dominating the rest of it. She has won back-to-back tournaments and a career-best 13 straight matches and will be ranked No. 10 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday.

It is quite a rise for the Czech Republic star, whose career was in jeopardy when she was a victim of a knife attack in December 2016 when an intruder broke into her home. Her left hand and forearm were badly injured as she fought off the attacker.

"I couldn't really dream about it one year ago when I was in total different position trying to come back and play," Kvitova said after her 22nd career title. "For me, it's something that's amazing. I couldn't really wish for more."

The 27-year-old Kvitova, who improved to 4-1 all-time against Muguruza, has already defeated six opponents ranked in the top 10 this year.

Kvitova, who began the week rated 21st on the tour, has won consecutive tournament crowns for the first time since 2011. She was coming off a triumph in St. Petersburg, Russia, two weeks ago.

Kvitova reached the final by defeating top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 in Saturday's semifinals. She had disposed of Agnieszka Radwanska in another comeback in the round of 32 after dropping the first set.

 

Muguruza knew things were a bit too easy when she was cruising in the opening set, and she was unable to regain control once Kvitova began rolling.

"In the second set it was more what I was expecting -- a tough match," Muguruza said. "You always know what she is capable of.

"I think it doesn't matter the ranking she has. She's always going to be like a top-10 player. On the paper it makes it nicer, but I think if she's No. 50 or whatever, I think she's always good."

Muguruza took a timeout in the third set with the match tied at 2-2 due to a knee injury as Kvitova observed the situation.

"When took a medical timeout, the wind started more and more, which it was pretty annoying for me," Kvitova said. "I tried to play to the middle, not really think about the wind that much."

Muguruza returned with a bandage on her leg and Kvitova won the next two games to take a 4-2 lead and ultimately close out the match.

This will be Kvitova's first time ranked in the Top 10 since June 2016, six months before the knife attack.

--Field Level Media

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