Petra Kvitova through to Aegon Classic final as she continues comeback
ByPA Sport
Published 24/06/2017 at 19:10 GMT
Czech number seven seed Petra Kvitova secured a place in the final of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, her first since recovering from a career-threatening stabbing, after compatriot Lucie Safarova retired with a thigh injury.
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic secured a place in the final of the AEGON Classic in Birmingham
Image credit: PA Sport
Czech number seven seed Petra Kvitova secured a place in the final of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, her first since recovering from a career-threatening stabbing, after compatriot Lucie Safarova retired with a thigh injury.
Kvitova will play Ashleigh Barty on Sunday following the Australian's impressive 3-6 6-4 6-3 win over Garbine Muguruza, the sixth-seeded Spaniard.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Kvitova was stabbed at her home in December, when she was left with serious hand injuries.
The 27-year-old, though, has slowly built up her confidence again following a return to competitive tennis and is looking to continue her momentum in what is only a second tournament after her enforced six-month break.
Kvitova took the opening set 6-1 against Safarova and was leading 1-0 in the second after breaking serve when the world number 41 could not continue because of a troubling thigh strain in her right leg, which had been heavily strapped.
"I am happy that I am in the final, but the way I am going is a bit weird. The hand is good, which is the best news which I can have, and I am not feeling any pain," Kvitova said afterwards, quoted on the WTA Tour website.
"I couldn't have imagined to have a better comeback than I am having now. You know, Paris was a bit weird and strange, and I couldn't play the best over there.
"I am happy that I am able to show good tennis here. I played four matches already, so it's a good record and good preparation for the final."
Barty, meanwhile, delivered the biggest scalp of her career after coming from behind to defeat Muguruza.
The Spaniard, runner-up at Wimbledon in 2015, comfortably took the opening set before Barty, ranked at number 77 in the world, rallied to force a decider.
Barty then managed two early breaks as she moved 5-1 in the third set before Muguruza saved two match points and fought back to 3-5.
However, the Australian was not to be denied as she closed out a battling victory in one hour and 50 minutes when Muguruza again failed to hold her serve.
At the Mallorca Open, number two seed Anastasija Sevastova will take on Julia Goerges in Sunday's final.
Latvian Sevastova beat third seeded Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia 6-4 6-2, while German Goerges came through 6-1 6-1 against American Catherine Cartan Bellis.
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