Petra Kvitova and Caroline Garcia will go head-to-head against each other on Sunday in the Cincinnati Open final. On Saturday, both came through their semi-finals against Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka respectively.
In the first semi-final, the Czech scored a comeback 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3 win over the American after two hours and 18 minutes of play. In doing so, Kvitova also overcame the eight aces Keys hit and the 10 double faults she had.
Cincinnati Open: Petra Kvitova and Caroline Garcia’s Ohio ambitions
Of the two players, it was Keys who won a higher percentage of first-serve points – 81% to the latter’s 64%. However, while both players faced multiple break points, Kvitova was able to save more break points on her serve and was able to break Keys multiple times as well. She saved six of the eight break points she faced while making good of five break points on her opponent’s serve.
Meanwhile, in her match against Sabalenka, Garcia survived a rain delay to claim a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory after two hours and five minutes of play. Garcia won 81% of her first-serve points to the sixth seed’s 64%. She also saved seven of the 10 break points she faced and converted six of the 13 break points that came her way on Sabalenka’s serve. In terms of winners and unforced errors, Garcia had 24 winners, eight more than the latter’s 16 and just 18 unforced errors, 14 fewer than Sabalenka’s 32.
The Cincinnati Open final’s a huge milestone for both Petra Kvitova and Caroline Garcia. While the former’s trying to win her 30th title on the tour, Garcia’s attempting to win her first WTA 1000 event since she won two back-to-back at the Wuhan Open and China Open in 2017. The Frenchwoman’s also become the first woman to make it to the final of a WTA 1000 event after coming through the qualifying rounds.
Photo Credit: Petra Kvitova Twitter