Kvitova wins Miami Open

Final day in Miami.

2023 Miami Open presented by Itau, a WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard, in Miami, Florida, USA, 21 March - 2 April 2023.

Defending champion:

Iga Swiatek (3) who defeated Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-0

Final:

Elena Rybakina (10) (Kazakhstan) v Petra Kvitova (15) (Czech Republic)

The pair met twice before the final, with Rybakina winning a quarter final in Ostrava in October last year, and Kvitova winning a round one encounter in Adelaide in January this year.

Rybakina saved two break points in the opening game of the match, and serve was held.

No break points were faced by either player for the next seven games, and it was 4-4.

Kvitova broke in the ninth game and would serve for the set at 5-4.

However, Rybakina broke straight back for 5-5.

Two love games followed, then a tie break.

The first five points went with serve, but Kvitova’s error on the sixth point when serving gave Rybakina a 4-2 lead.

Rybakina lost a pint when serving at 4-3, and things were back on serve.

After a remarkable series of set saving efforts from both players, Kvitova served at 15-14 and a Rybakina mistake ended the set.

Kvitova was ahead 7-6(14).

Kvitova broke the Rybakina serve in game two of set two.

Then the fifteenth seed saved a break point before consolidating for 3-0.

Rybakina saved a break point in the fourth game to avoid going down a double break.

The next three games were service holds to love, leaving Rybakina serving at 2-5 to stay in the match.

From 15-0, Rybakina doubled faulted, then put a backhand into the net and another wide.

Kvitova had two championship points.

When Rybakina pushed a forehand long, Kvitova had won the day.7-6(14) 6-2.

Petra Kvitova, in her first Miami Open final, won her 30th career title, and 9th at WTA 1000 level.

First final since Cincinnati in August last year, first title since Eastbourne in June last year, and Kvitova is back in top ten.