Defending champion:
Petra Kvitová (10) who defeated Kiki Bertens 7-6(6) 4-6 6-3
- Simona Halep (3) v Kiki Bertens (7)
Halep led the head to head count 3-2 before the final, but the most recent clash was won by Bertens, in the Cincinnati final last year, after dropping the opening set. However that was on a hard court. This was on clay, the surface upon which Halep won Roland Garros in 2018.
Halep served first and Bertens donated a backhand error and a forehand winner. Another Bertens forehand winner was outweighed by her mistakes and Halep held serve. Bertens levelled, a double fault unhelpful, but not fatal. Halep led 2-1 after a trip to deuce did not lead to a break point,
After a positive start, and no break points, the next stanza of the match was rather hectic, with five breaks of serve in six games.
Three of those belonged to Bertens who transformed a 2-4 game deficit into a 5-4 surplus, and she served for the set.
15-0 after Halep slipped and missed a chance to address the Bertens forehand. 30-15 following a Halep backhand mistake. Set points arrived with Halep hitting the net. She was being battered by a big forehand. Halep surrendered rather meekly and through the Romanian’s last two mistakes Bertens claimed the opening set 6-4.
Riding the momentum, Bertens opened set two by attacking the Halep serve. Backhand and forehand errors from the third seed, plus a magical lob winner by Bertens, created three break points. One was saved, but a netted Halep backhand confirmed a break. Bertens had won five successive games.
A poor backhand at the net continued the grief for Halep, and a Bertens errant forehand only temporarily stopped the Dutch run. A drop shot winner, quality serve, and backhand stunner down the line won the second game for Bertens who led 2-0.
Halep lifted in the next game, her normal pinpoint accuracy on display as she dragged Bertens to all parts of the court, drawing errors. The final two points were decided through clean Romanian winners. Growing in confidence, Halep took a 30-15 Bertens lead, and turned it into a break point situation. An ace for 40-30 received a terrific response from Halep in the form of a deep penetrating forehand for which Bertens had no effective play. Break point arrived with an overhit Bertens forehand, an error drawn by Halep’s running effort to reach and place her forehand. A huge serve saved that one, but a Bertens backhand sailed wide on the second break chance and games were 2-2.
Bertens, seemingly unperturbed, immediately struck back. Halep had 30-30, but was bailed up by a constant controlled barrage by Bertens, forcing errors from both wings and a service break.
The next four games were to serve, but that doesn’t tell the whole strory. Halep held twice with ease, while Bertens was in trouble on both occasions.
At 3-2, she was taken to deuce after leading 30-15. Bertens served her way out of danger, sealing it with an ace.
In the eighth game, Bertens trailed 15-30 when she hit mishit an overhead so badly that it was sailing way over the baseline. However, instead of the point going to Halep, and creating two break chances, the Romanian couldn’t escape the trajectory of the ball which hit her directly, causing the point to be awarded to Bertens. 30-30. Still the Romanian was on top in general play, and two game points were avoided. Bertens hit a forehand wide on one, and Halep received some luck with a net cord on the second.
Break point arrived with a netted backhand. An ace put paid to that. An off forehand winner and first serve winner closed out the game for a 5-3 lead.
Halep forced Bertens to serve for the match by racing through the ninth game, dropping only a single point.
Two match points were saved by a resilient Halep - at 40-30, the Romanian hit a remarkable forehand volley winner, and at the next match point Bertens hit a forehand wide.
The final break point came from a Halep forehand error, and the match ended with her backhand missing the court.
Kiki Bertens won the Mutua Madrid Open 6-4 6-4, the most prestigious of nine titles in her career. The first woman to win the tournament without dropping a set.
Bertens will move to a career high ranking of #4.
In winning, Bertens defeated last years Madrid champion Kvitová, and last years Roland Garros finalists, Halep and Stephens.
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