mtenis.com.pl

Q. It's always good to get a first round of a Grand Slam under your belt. 6-1, 6-0 is pretty commanding.

PETRA KVITOVA: I'm very happy. First round is always nerves. It was the same today with morning. When I wake up, I start to feel nervous. I was just glad how I played today. It was windy outside, it was tough condition. But it was the same for both of us. I didn't expect it was going to be wind. In that time, just try to help maybe with the wind. Yeah, I'm just glad how I played. I mean, it's great I have a couple of matches from New Haven that I felt more confident on the court than maybe I will feel if I'm not playing New Haven. So, yeah, I'm glad.

Q. How does it help coming into a US Open having just had a victory like in New Haven? Does that boost your confidence?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah. I think, you know, always struggling after Wimbledon when I playing the few hard court tournaments before the US Open. I'm just glad I can play New Haven and have a little bit more matches in my bag. For me it's a good idea actually. I didn't feel very tired today. So I think only one thing would help me there.

Q. Coming off of a second Wimbledon championship, there were some stumbles. Does that give you confidence knowing you've been able to do it twice, maybe it will help you in the other Grand Slams?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, of course the other Grand Slams are a big challenge for me right now to do a good result. Especially here, where I don't really have a good result. So I'm really motivating to do well here. You know, I remember 2011 when I lost my first round after winning Wimbledon, so I'm just glad that I'm better already (smiling).

Q. This is such a different atmosphere here in New York. Some people love it here. How do you respond to this kind of tournament?

PETRA KVITOVA: I'm not really this person, really love it. But that's the Grand Slam, it's important one. Yeah, I mean, if I'm comparing with Wimbledon, it's really big difference. It's more crowd, it's more big show, something like that. So it's not really my person. But it's a Grand Slam. Stepping on the court, it doesn't matter where it is, just play your game and do the best on the court. Like I said already, I didn't have a good result. So I'm waiting for the time when I can approach that.

Q. You've been close to No. 1 before. If you were to go the distance here, you could become the No. 1 player in the world. Is that an ambition of yours, a goal?

PETRA KVITOVA: No, it's not. I mean, I was pretty close to No. 1. But I wasn't really that big disappointed that I didn't make it. Of course it's more important for me to do well in the Grand Slam and winning Grand Slam obviously. That's what matters. I mean, the number before name is only say how good you are playing on the tournaments, on the Grand Slam. So, I mean, if you are doing well and you have a good success on the big tournaments, it is showing on the ranking. So just focusing on the next match right now. Of course, it's a Grand Slam, so that's it.

Q. Having a 3 in front of your name is pretty good, means you're playing good tennis. Does that boost your self-confidence?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, I mean, after winning Wimbledon, I moved to No. 4, what is great. I don't know if it's gave me some confident, but it still is a number. I already was there. So I know how is it feeling. Yeah, not really like special right now.

Q. Making short work of your early matches. How good is it to be able to get through these quickly?

PETRA KVITOVA: It's always great. You know, Czech girls is never easy. I was very nervous before the match. Yeah, I was really tired, so some of the games I tried to push what I can. I wasn't really relaxed, for example, as first round. Still, it's the beginning of the tournament. It's always tough. I'm just glad that I'm through. Yeah, it was little bit of fight again today, so I'm glad for that.

Q. We heard from the men and women that it's tough with the wind and humidity.

PETRA KVITOVA: It was windy. Our court start with the shade and it was slowly to cover all the court. Sometimes I couldn't really see the serve. You know, sometimes when it's going from the sun to shade, it's not really visible. I'm just glad I did it how I did, and that's important.

Q. I know you take one match at a time. But you come in with real good form. How confident are you that you can go deep in this tournament?

PETRA KVITOVA: That's my goal. It's a big motivation to go a little bit deeper in the tournament than I did a few years ago. Yeah, I mean, I'm not really thinking about this. I mean, it's just match after the match, so that's important. For me it's bad to look too much to the future. So I'm just really preparing for each match. I feel well on the court. I mean, couple of matches in New Haven helped me. That's just next match to get through to the fourth round.

Q. The next match, do you know your opponent, Krunic?

PETRA KVITOVA: I think I played her, but it was a long time ago on the clay, in Prague, ITF even. I know that she can push a lot of balls back. She's very good mover. Probably I need to play, again, my game. I really can't change it, so... That's I think the key for the match. Was tight match with Keys. I just saw the end of the match. Yeah, that's happening everywhere in these tournaments. Yeah, I think we going to prepare tomorrow.

Q. Are you surprised in the last three or four tournaments you played a lot of Czech players?

PETRA KVITOVA: It's true.

Q. Just by chance?

PETRA KVITOVA: I don't know. We are just a lot of Czech girls are now in the draw. I just really had a great practice in Wimbledon. I played against Lucie Safarova a few times. Zahlavova Strycova in New Haven, and Cetkovska here. I'm getting really used to it. Yeah, I will see how is it. It's never really nice to see Czech girl as opponent, but that's happening.

Q. How surprised are you it's Krunic and not Keys in the next round?

PETRA KVITOVA: I didn't know who I would play in the third round. David told me when it was really tight in the third that I'm waiting for the opponent, for the winner of this match. You know, I'm not really like surprised. I think for Keys was difficult, favorite of this match, playing home. I think she just really tried to show her best over there. Krunic is just pushing all the balls back, so it's always very difficult to have a winners. Yeah, I mean, it's happening.

Q. Disappointing for you. What was your main issue today?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yes, I'm very disappointing. I wanted to win today, and unfortunately I didn't. Yeah, I think she played really unbelievable tennis and she put a lot of balls back. Almost all of them. For me it was very difficult just, you know, to play only on the winners. I did mistakes and I was really trying everything what I could in that moment. I was trying to fight and fighting every point, but it was so difficult. It wasn't really my day. She played really great tennis today.

Q. Did you have any feel like in the warmups or before the match start that had this might be more difficult than you had anticipated?

PETRA KVITOVA: No. I knew a little bit what she's playing, but I didn't really expect how she played so well. Really, I mean, you know, I was fine, and suddenly she just pushed very hard the ball. It was just coming so quickly then, so it was really difficult, you know. She was trying to do everything, but of course it's great. I just didn't really to have an answer for it.

Q. What are two or three things she did especially well today?

PETRA KVITOVA: I think really she was really great moving on the court. I mean, she served well in the important points as well that I really could expect, but it was difficult still to return it. How I said already, she pushed a lot of balls back and it was difficult for me then.

Q. Did you feel like some of your shots maybe let you down a bit, like your serve or your forehand? Was it a bad day, or just...

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, my serve didn't work great today. But anyway, I mean, I won some matches without my serve, as well. It's always about me. Of course if I have a better serve maybe it's just helping me a little bit, but it was a lot of rallies and it was of course for her these rallies.

Q. Radwanska, when she lost here, she said she can't make it here in this tournament; doesn't feel comfortable. Do you feel this way? Because you have a tough story with the US Open.

PETRA KVITOVA: Not really. I wasn't really thinking about the story. I mean, it's a Grand Slam and everybody just want to win. I lost, and that's what happened. You know, I did better than 2011, so that's good, as well. Yeah, I mean, that's the tennis. Sometimes you're up; sometimes you are down. Just about you wake up in the next morning and try to work hard again. That's what I will do soon.

Q. What do you think about the crowd today?

PETRA KVITOVA: I think it was really unbelievable. I mean, it was a full of people over there, so it was really great atmosphere up there.

Q. What are your plans now?

PETRA KVITOVA: I'm flying home tomorrow. That's what I know right now (smiling).

Q. She said it was an honor to be on court with you, and that she really did not expect to win this match. How do you feel when you hear something like that?

PETRA KVITOVA: You know, I think I know how she's feeling when she's going to play top-10 player, and I know the feeling that you don't really expect anything from yourself and just going there and play your best tennis. That's what she did today, for sure, for 100%. You know, to play like with nothing to lose, just enjoy the match and everything, it's just work for her. I was the favorite of the match and I knew that I should win. Of course it's always a little bit difficult.

Q. Was your leg an issue at all?

PETRA KVITOVA: I just a little bit felt it, but it wasn't really big issue of the match.

Q. At the last point you didn't seem to look very well. The last points.

PETRA KVITOVA: The last point, it doesn't matter.

Q. Not just the last, but, I mean, in the last game, the last games, you weren't moving that great, I thought. Were you feeling some problems or not?

PETRA KVITOVA: No. I mean, I just felt a little bit, but it wasn't really a problem during the match. So, I mean, yeah, I didn't know that I moved so badly. Maybe next time.

Q. What were your expectations for 2014? And now that we're done with the four Grand Slams, do you feel that you have met your expectations?

PETRA KVITOVA: You know, I have a little bit bigger expectation for myself to play in this tournament. I really wanted to have a deeper run than I had few years ago. Still, it was the last Grand Slam of the year. We are still playing about Singapore. I will do whatever I can to qualify for that. I mean, I will try to be on the high spot in the end of the season.

Q. Five of the top eight players, top eight seeds, are already out. How do you explain it? Halep was playing well. Ivanovic. Do you think it's something strange, the stars, superstition, or whatever?

PETRA KVITOVA: I don't know. I think it's the women's tennis. I'm not pretty sure what's happening. I mean, if I see, you know, this year for example, all the Grand Slams have a big upsets. It's same here. I think just the tennis is so close. The levels are very close. Everybody really can beat everyone from the top, so it's really difficult to stay on the top. It's a lot of pressure over there. And the players are better and better, so it's really -- it's really tough.

Q. How do you deal with the pressure?

PETRA KVITOVA: You know, I'm already still a little bit from 2011, and I think without the pressure it's nothing. Pressure means that you are -- that you have a good result and you are just -- you know, in this position the pressure is there of course every time. You have to just try to handle it as much as possible.

Q. Some people don't read newspaper articles about themselves or they kind of seclude themselves away a little bit. Do you have a theory of what you do that works for you?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah. I do the same thing. I mean, I don't read anything about myself during these weeks, and it was same in Wimbledon. Sometimes it's better not to read anything about and just be in your zone and trying everything what you can each day, each practice, each match. I think it's quite good idea.

Q. Following up on pressure, do you think women, because of all these upsets, feel more the pressure and play more on nerves than men? The men are more stable nowadays. The top 8 more or less always get there. In this tournament, top 10 are all there.

PETRA KVITOVA: That's the men. I think the mens are having pressure, of course. They are just handle it better probably. I don't know.

Q. Aleksandra called herself an outsider. Is it difficult at this point in a tournament for the top players to face someone that's unfamiliar to them?

PETRA KVITOVA: You know, I mean, in the time when you're on the court doesn't matter really. You are just trying what is possible in that moment. We saw already a few upsets this week. Yeah, it's happening, and, yeah, I hope that she gonna play well.

SINGAPORE - By virtue of her title run at the Premier-level Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open on Saturday, Petra Kvitova has become the fourth player to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, joining Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep in the field.

The winner of the Wuhan final was going to qualify, and it was Kvitova who came through against WTA Rising Star Eugenie Bouchard, winning the match in straights in an hour and 20 minutes, 6-3, 6-4.

Kvitova has really made her push for Singapore in the second half of the season. She went into Wimbledon down at No.16 on the Road To Singapore leaderboard, far from the Top 8 that qualifies for the WTA's crown jewel event. But a fairytale run to her second Grand Slam title at the All-England Club and Premier-level triumphs at New Haven and Wuhan have now pushed her over the finish line.

The Czech was asked about her season turnaround during her run to the title in Wuhan.

"From the beginning my season was really tough. If somebody told me at the Australian Open that I would win Wimbledon and still be fighting for Singapore, I'm not sure I would have believed them.

"But I've had a great second part of the season. It all started a little bit at the French Open, and from there I just kept improving. I think early on I was expecting too much of myself, and it was really difficult to take the loss in my first round in Australia, but I kept working hard, and now I'm here."

This is Kvitova's fourth consecutive time to qualify for the WTA Finals, having achieved the feat in 2011 (winning the title), 2012 (falling in the round robin stage) and 2013 (reaching the semifinals).

Q. How tough was all the off and on over the past week, all the waiting? You were the last second round match to finish. A lot of time.
PETRA KVITOVA: Yes, it's very weird, I have to say definitely. I felt like I stuck in the second round for a while.
Yeah, I think that the tournament was really, like, weird for me this time. I couldn't really describe how. But I was waiting all day long almost every day to be scheduled on, and didn't really have a chance to finish or step on the court. So it was really weird.
I think it's when you still like waiting and your nerves are still going, it's always a little bit difficult with energy and everything. You just have to focus all day, which then maybe when you step on the court, you don't really have the energy afterwards.

Q. How would you rate how you played today? She seemed to play very, very well. I don't know whether you thought you played well or if you thought you didn't.
PETRA KVITOVA: Definitely I played better than yesterday. There's no doubt about. I think that the short balls just killed me today, unfortunately. I missed them a lot. That was probably the key of the match, of the second set. I believed that I could turn it around if I win the second set, but unfortunately I didn't.
I just think that in the important points, she didn't really miss, and I felt that I have to really go for it, which I tried to do it. Unfortunately sometimes it didn't happen.
I think even my serve today was really helpful. I think just played solid match, but that was same from her side. It was just about one or two points today.
Q. With still being the last second round match to go, was it frustrating not being earlier on the schedule? You had to wait even today.
PETRA KVITOVA: That I was early on the schedule?
Q. Today you had to wait for Kerber. Was it frustrating having to wait for a third round match to finish when you're in the second round?
PETRA KVITOVA: I didn't really think like that. I was scheduled second. Their match was interrupt twice, which always it's kind of difficult for me, too. And our as well. It was just weird.
But it's weird when you're sitting in the locker room and sometime finish the third round, as Carla Suarez Navarro, and I was still waiting for my second. We was just making laugh of it. What we can do, right, in the locker room?
It is how it is. I wish I should be scheduled a little bit better, but it's the past now.
Q. What do you do in those rain delays? How do you spend the time?
PETRA KVITOVA: Well, the first one was very quick, so I just sit for a while, and almost going on the court again.
In the second, I just had the team around and I was waiting in the Court 2, just lying down, have my iPod on. That's what I can do, nothing.
Q. With the first six months of the season done now, transitioning to hard courts, can you talk about the first half of the season for you, what your feeling is about it.
PETRA KVITOVA: Well, I think in last couple of months happen lot of things in my life. Yeah, it's a lot of changes. I just think that I need the time to just used to everything, how it is.
I made a decisions which I'm still believe was right, so that's how it is. Of course, the challenge with that, it's still up and down, but the ups are not as great as it was maybe last year or the years before. But I still hope that the ups will come soon.
I'm still, you know, working hard and still believe that everything can just turn around. I just really need to be more confident on the court. That's happen what happen.
I'm not finishing with the tennis so far. I feel still young and I still want to play good and be in the top again. So I still have motivation to do well. I will do just what I can.
Q. Do you feel like you just need some time to feel settled maybe?
PETRA KVITOVA: I do, yeah, definitely. I've been with David for seven years. So something new with Franta now. It just definitely time. I don't think that everyone can show you the result through, I don't know, two months. Just needed time to everything set up.
We'll see now. The main goal is Olympics. That's my motivation right now.
Q. Are you going to play between now and the Olympics?
PETRA KVITOVA: I do play Montréal.

Petra Kvitova has won the “biggest fight” of her career, and now, back on court, her “dream has come true.” She will play in the women's singles draw at Roland-Garros in 2017.

Petra Kvitova's beaming smile has once again graced the tour, but five months ago the picture was devastating.

image: http://aka-cdn-ns.adtech.de/apps/13/Ad1 ... CH_003.jpg

image: http://aka-cdn-ns.adtech.de/apps/13/Ad1 ... CH_003.jpg


The two-time major winner was sidelined having sustained career-threatening injuries to her playing hand in an horrific knife attack at her home in Prostejov.

The route to recovery has been gruelling, but Kvitova likes a challenge, and the tennis community welcomed the news on Friday that the 27-year-old would contest the French Open in Paris.

Kvitova's name appeared in the women's singles draw as the No.15 seed, drawn to face world No.86 American Julia Boserup in round one in their first meeting.

“I knew this day would come,” revealed an emotional Kvitova. “I'm really happy that here, the dream comes true. It wasn't easy, but I'm happy that I worked through this and I can play tennis and I can be in the draw.

"I'm lucky I'm a positive-thinking person. I was really trying hard to get my hand back in the proper movement. It's not perfectly ready, so we will see how everything goes, but I'm happy that I am able to play again."

Heavyweights hit the practice courts on day 4
image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... acki02.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... acki02.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itova2.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itova2.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itova4.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itova4.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... IC_01d.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... IC_01d.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... VIC_05.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... VIC_05.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... kivic2.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... kivic2.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... kivic5.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... kivic5.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... IC_03b.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... IC_03b.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... 2-__1_.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... 2-__1_.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... 2-__2_.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... 2-__2_.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... lRafa3.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... lRafa3.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... lRafa2.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... lRafa2.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... Nadal2.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... Nadal2.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... ruza04.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... ruza04.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... ruza01.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... ruza01.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itrov4.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itrov4.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itrov2.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itrov2.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... igor04.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... igor04.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... dison2.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... dison2.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... erev01.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... erev01.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... erev03.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... erev03.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... LEP_01.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... LEP_01.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... hard04.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... hard04.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... hard01.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... hard01.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... acki02.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... acki02.jpg


image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itova2.jpg

image: http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/pics ... itova2.jpg


Next
Prev
Photo by: FFT
Family fun as Caroline Wozniacki and her father practise.
Photo by: FFT
Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova share a hearty hug before hitting together.
Photo by: FFT
Petra Kvitova unloads on a forehand.
Photo by: FFT
Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi in good spirits ahead of their practice session.
Photo by: FFT
Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi in good spirits ahead of their practice session.
Photo by: FFT
Novak Djokovic prepares to strike while Andre Agassi watches on.
Photo by: FFT
Andre Agassi gives Novak Djokovic some words to the wise.
Photo by: FFT
Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi get hands-on during their practice session.
Photo by: FFT
Rafael Nadal greets Ivan Lendl and Jamie Delgado warmly.
Photo by: FFT
All smiles as Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal shake hands at the net.
Photo by: FFT
Feedback time for Rafael Nadal and his team.
Photo by: FFT
Rafael Nadal exhibits his fearsome forehand under Uncle Toni's watchful eye.
Photo by: FFT
Rafael Nadal strides purposefully on to the court.
Photo by: FFT
Garbine Muguruza gets her forehand into gear.
Photo by: FFT
Garbine Muguruza in discussion with her team.
Photo by: FFT
Grigor Dimitrov enjoys a well-earned break in the sun.
Photo by: FFT
Grigor Dimitrov serves up a treat during practice.
Photo by: FFT
Grigor Dimitrov gears up for a backhand slice.
Photo by: FFT
Madison Keys and coach Lindsay Davenport look focused during a serving drill.
Photo by: FFT
Alexander Zverev sees the funny side during practice.
Photo by: FFT
Forehanded is forearmed for Alexander Zverev.
Photo by: FFT
Simona Halep gets into swing on the forehand side.
Photo by: FFT
Richard Gasquet listens intently to some instructions.
Photo by: FFT
Food for thought on court for Richard Gasquet.
Photo by: FFT
Family fun as Caroline Wozniacki and her father practise.
Photo by: FFT
Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova share a hearty hug before hitting together.
Kvitova was undeterred by the size of the task to return to the upper echelons of the game.

Chess with coach Jiri Vanek kept the competitive streak alive, among the incremental building process back to full fitness. Cycling, running, table tennis and badminton all contributed to the rehabilitation as each day Kvitova patiently worked on her recovery. She has also been studying media and social communications at the University of Jan Amos Komensky.

Remarkably, at the beginning of March, Kvitova held a racquet for the first time. The “weird” sensation turned to relief, as she learnt she wouldn’t have to change technique when wielding her ferocious serve or forehand.

“Of course the hand doesn't have that power and the strength yet, but I'm working on it,” said Kvitova, who reached the Roland-Garros semi-finals in 2012. “Hopefully one day everything will be perfect. I'm happy that when I'm playing I don't have pain in my hand. I haven’t tested it in a match, of course. Maybe it will be different when the nerves come and I’m going be tight and everything. But so far it's okay.”

"Now I can just enjoy everything. It's beautiful weather outside in Paris. Sometimes I just stand outside and see the sun and say, ‘Oh, it's beautiful.’ I see things differently than before."

The 2011 and 2014 Wimbledon champion was warned that she might not be able to play professionally again. Yet now, embarking on her first professional outing since November, she has been welcomed back by her peers in the locker room.

“It was difficult. Not many people believed that I can play tennis again. So I already won my biggest fight, I like challenges,” insisted Kvitova, who watched matches on TV in her absence with a feeling of missing out. “I felt like the tennis was taken away from me, and it wasn't my decision. Suddenly I couldn't do what I love. But I stayed in life and I have all my fingers, I can play tennis and I can be here.”

Time away from the sport has enabled Kvitova to renew her passion for tennis, giving her a fresh perspective.

“I had the time in my career when I doubted if I do have the motivation, if I want to play." she said. “I see life from the different angle, it's just a sport. When I don't put a ball inside the court, I'm not crying. From that angle, it's much better, it felt really weird I couldn't compete.

"Actually, I didn't miss the nerves before and after the match. But I definitely missed being on the court, I did miss the fight. Now I can just enjoy everything. It's beautiful weather outside in Paris. Sometimes I just stand outside and see the sun and say, ‘Oh, it's beautiful.’ I see things differently than before.”


Read more at http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/ ... g7FG5At.99
Read more at http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/ ... deBYY2y.99

- No.7 seed Petra Kvitova moved into the final at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham for the first time in her career on Saturday, as compatriot Lucie Safarova was forced to retire with a lingering right leg injury in the semifinals with Kvitova leading 6-1, 1-0.

In just her second tournament back following a hand injury suffered in a home invasion in December, Kvitova returns to a WTA final for the first time since winning the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai in November.

"I was just thinking about my game, and yeah, I'm sorry for her that she's unhealthy, but I hope she will be better soon," Kvitova said. "I think she had a great run here for sure. I'm happy that I'm 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, and that's the best news."

"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. I think that my game should be same as every other day, to play fast and aggressive and to show my serve again, and I hope it will help me again."

After just 32 minutes of play, the World No.41 had a quick consultation with the WTA physio before deciding she couldn't continue in the semifinal encounter.

After receiving a medical timeout in the first set yesterday and battling for over three hours in that quarterfinal victory against Daria Gavrilova, Safarova told reporters she was dealing with a thigh strain, and also played her semifinal with heavy strapping on the affected leg.

In the tennis that was played, Kvitova showed glimpses of the form that's now taken her to a 10-0 career record against her compatriot, as she struck 16 winners to just eight unforced errors, won 80 percent of points behind her first serve and struck five aces.

"I think that we have really similar games," Kvitova said about her dominance over her fellow Czech lefty. "I just think that we know each other very well, and it's about a few tight points when you play a little bit better and the third thing that is making the difference in the end."

Kvitova will face Australian Ashleigh Barty in the final, who upset Garbiñe Muguruza in three sets in the day's second semifinal.

"Ashleigh, she's the kind of player for sure with a great touch. She's...changing direction a lot, slice, some volleys drop shot, something like that," the Czech assessed. "It will be always interesting to play her because you never know what other shots [she] will bring."