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Madrid queen Kvitova plays down Grand Slam hopes

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-10 08:01

MADRID - Petra Kvitova, who defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (3) 6-4 on Sunday to win the WTA Madrid title, played down her chances of causing a French Open sensation.

"I don't think that it changes anything for the French Open," said the new world No 10 who stood at 62 in the rankings a year ago.

"Of course it's good preparation. There were good matches here and there is more confidence, but I don't think that it's a big change for me for the French Open.

"I'm happy and it's nice to win the tournament and to be in the top 10 at the same time. But it's just a number and I want to improve my game and we'll see. I don't want to be only 10 - of course."

Her upset victory in one hour, 42 minutes prevented Belarusian Azarenka from winning her third title of the spring campaign after taking Miami and Marbella back-to-back.

Azarenka, guaranteed a fourth-place ranking by virtue of reaching the final, has been one of the form players of recent months, and still stands a respectable 19-3 since March.

Despite her defeat, she will now rise to No 4 in the world.

Kvitova's resounding victory further cemented her reputation as a giant killer, with Azarenka her ninth career top-10 victim.

She also dominated with 40 winners to 10 for Azarenka.

"Congratulations to Petra. She had a great week and deserved to win today," said a tearful Azarenka in the trophy ceremony.

The Kvitova list of wins also includes successes over Venus Williams (2008 Memphis), Dinara Safina (2009 US Open), Caroline Wozniacki (2010 Wimbledon), Samantha Stosur (2011 Australian Open) and Kim Clijsters (2011 Paris Indoors).

The Czech becomes the second outsider in a row to win the women's event at the Caja Magica after France's Aravane Rezai upset Williams in the 2010 final.

She also joins world No 1 Wozniacki on three titles this season to lead the WTA in that category. Kvitova also won in Brisbane and the Paris Indoors in the first two months of the year.

The 21-year-old, who was ranked 18th at the start of the week, took a firm grip in a match littered with seven breaks of serve.

Kvitova began the match with a break and held her nerve despite losing the lead when Azarenka broke back in the third game.

As the set wound into a tiebreaker, it was the Czech who prevailed, winning the last five points to seal it after 52 minutes.

A run of four breaks in the second set finally ended as Kvitova saved two break points to hold for 5-3. A game later, the desperate Azarenka saved a match point, but Kvitova served out the victory a game later on her second winning opportunity.

Agence France-Presse \