Wimbledon next for Kvitova
Print Edition
PETRA Kvitova showed she will be a serious contender at Wimbledon after beating Australian Ashleigh Barty 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win the Aegon Classic in Birmingham yesterday, in just her second tournament since returning from a knife attack injury.
The Czech, a Wimbledon winner in 2011 and 2014, suffered a knife attack during a robbery at her home in December that left her with a damaged hand and sidelined her until last month’s French Open.
The 27-year-old not only looked untroubled by her hand this week but also looked back to her best with her explosive serve often too much for Barty yesterday as she produced 13 aces.
She served out for the title in emphatic fashion — to love and ending with an ace — and celebrated in her typical understated style, with a broad smile.
Her last final on grass was her triumph at Wimbledon three years ago against Eugenie Bouchard and while her talk on arrival at Edgbaston was purely about her delight to be playing again, she clearly has bigger goals now. “I like to play finals on grass. I wish I could have more — I won’t be sad if it is in a couple of weeks (at Wimbledon) but there is still a lot of work to be done,” she said.
In Halle, Germany, Roger Federer defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-3 to win the Gerry Weber Open for a record ninth time yesterday.
Playing in his 140th career final, Federer saved the only break point he faced and converted four of his eight opportunities to clinch his 92nd career title in 53 minutes. At 35, the Swiss became the oldest winner of the grasscourt tournament.
Federer, who skipped the claycourt season after winning the Miami Open in early April, claimed his fourth title of the year, matching Rafael Nadal’s tally, and he will be seeded ahead of his Spanish rival for Wimbledon, which starts in eight days.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion was surprised by German veteran Tommy Haas on his return from the two-month break last week in Stuttgart but brushed off any doubts over his form in Halle.
Against the 20-year-old Zverev, who lost last year’s final to Florian Mayer, Federer raced to a 4-0 lead before taking the first set in 22 minutes. Zverev created his only break chance in the opening game of the second, but was unable to capitalize.
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