H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, with the Qatar Total Open champion Petra Kvitova (right) of Czech Republic and runner-up Garbine Muguruza of Spain at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yester
Petra Kvitova was in brilliant form throughout the week at the Qatar Total Open but the World No.10 saved her best for the title clash.
A tough final was predicted between the fourth seeded Czech and World No.16 Garbiñe Muguruza, but Kvitova with her powerful winners made it a one-sided affair at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, yesterday.
When the two clashed in Doha final three years ago, Kvitova rallied from a set down to clinch her maiden Falcon Trophy in two hours and 16, but yesterday, she hardly broke a sweat posting 6-2, 6-1 victory in 66 minutes for her second title in the tournament.
The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani also attended the match along with a limited number of socially-distanced spectators.
With her 28th career title, Kvitova became only the fourth player in history to win the Qatar Total Open twice. Anastasia Myskina (2003, 2004), Maria Sharapova (2005, 2008) and Victoria Azarenka (2012 and 2013) previously won the event on two occasions.
Kvitova, who will turn 31 tomorrow, also have most number of wins in Doha after her 20th victory last night, surpassing Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who won 19 matches here.
“It feels great, for sure. And it’s beautiful trophy, as well,” Kvitova told reporters after claiming a commanding victory.
“I missed the title last year, but still, I think it was a good season for me overall. I’m glad that I am able to make it this year. Every title is great. Of course playing final, it’s great and for me it’s always the bonus. But losing in the final is disappointing and sad,” the Czech, who lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final last year, said.
In windy conditions under lights, the two-time Wimbledon champion excelled giving little chance to Muguruza, who defeated defending champion Sabalenka in the quarter-final, before getting walkover against injured Azarenka in the semi-final.
Kvitova won the first set in 32 minutes after Muguruza failed to continue the momentum at 2-2 with mistakes costing the former World No.1 dearly.
While Muguruza was laid down by her 27 unforced errors in the title deciding match, Kvitova held nerves in tense stages of the match saving six out of seven break points.
The tall Czech continued to keep control of the match with her powerful shots and spectacular winners, raising level of her game after every point.
In all, Kvitova fired 11 winners to 18 unforced errors to seal her victory, ending the title drought that lasted for almost two years after her Stuttgart crown in 2019.
“I think it was a little bit less windy, not much but a little bit less. I know that Garbine didn’t play the semi-final, so for her it was something which I faced already, and it wasn’t really easy,” said Kvitova before praising Muguruza whom she embraced after winning the final.
“She is a two-time Grand Slam champion, World No. 1, former. And definitely she deserve the respect. Even she couldn’t win it, she is a big player and big champion.”
Qatar Total Open champion Petra Kvitova
Yesterday’s result also extended Kvitova’s dominance over Muguruza to 5-1, including the last five meetings.
For Muguruza, who is having a consistent run this season, it was a disappointing end to the tournament after her impressive performance in previous days in Doha.
The defeat means she will have to wait more for her first trophy since Monterrey 2019.
“It was a different condition out there today. I couldn’t really find my game. I think Petra also played very well from the baseline and it was hard to try to make her move or try to do much. It was very windy, as well. It really wasn’t my day. I failed to do less mistakes, probably,” Muguruza said yesterday.
However, she said walkover in the semi-final didn’t break her momentum.
“No, I don’t think it affected me. I actually took the opportunity to recover a little bit after the tough matches that I had,” the two-time major winner added.
Along with the golden Falcon Trophy, Kvitova, collected a prize of $68,570 for winning the $565,530 tournament, while Muguruza got richer by $51,000 for being the runner-up.
