Kvitova d Muguruza to win Doha thriller

The final of the Qatar Total Open was a wonderful exhibition of women’s tennis, and a fitting end to the first Premier 5 event of 2018, which has been full of highlights from Day One.

Garbine Muguruza (4) was the fast starter, breaking the Petra Kvitova serve twice and maintaining an attacking but tidy all court game.

Petra, to be candid, was generous with her multiple double faults and unforced errors off the ground, and her false start reflected 0-5 on the scoreboard.

Similar to her semi final against Wozniacki, Kvitova slipped into the match with a three game streak, including a break of the Spanish serve when Garbine served for the set.

Muguruza was not going to waste her brilliant beginning though, and on her second attempt to take the opener she prevailed 6-3.

Serving first in set two, Kvitova had the advantage of being able to put pressure on Muguruza to play catch up when serving.

However, there were chances for the fourth seed to break the Czech serve in the third and fifth games, each of which were competently saved.

Wasting the chances eventually caught up with Muguruza, and Kvitova was the one who gained the edge, breaking with a backhand winner for a 4-2 lead.

Muguruza created two further break points to be back on serve, but the solid delivery of Kvitova snuffed out any thought of that happening.

Both players then held serve, and Kvitova’s hold meant the set was hers.

A set apiece.

First serve percentage for Muguruza in set one 75% and set two 62%

First serve percentage for Kvitova in set one 48% and set two 68%

Set one for Kvitová winners 4 unforced errors 15

Set two for Kvitova winners 16 unforced errors 16

The decider began with Muguruza 1-0, after double faulting at 30-30, and needing to save a break point.

Kvitova saved two break points at 1-2, with a backhand winner and ace.

Then Kvitova attained the all important break to lead 3-2 and Muguruza called a medical time out for attention to her knee which she hurt during that game.

Yet another break point saved by Kvitova and the lead was extended to 4-2.

Muguruza saved two break points to hold for 3-4, and a love game from Kvitová drew her to within a game from the title.

Garbine held and forced Petra to serve for it, which she did purposely.

3-6 6-3 6-4 - the 13th straight victory and 2nd successive tournament win for Kvitova who jumps back into the top ten after starting 2018 at 29.

Amazingly Kvitova is unseeded for next weeks Dubai Premier tournament.

That will strike fears into the seeded players in her part of the draw - eighth seed Kiki Mladenovic likely second round, top seed Elina Svitolina possible quarter final, and possible semi final third seed Karolina Pliskova.

It could be another final between Kvitova and Muguruza depending on fitness and recovery.

This tournament alone Kvitova knocked off Agnieszka Radwanska, Elina Svitolina (3), Julia Goerges (9), Caroline Wozniacki (1) and Garbine Muguruza (4).

A great tournament for Muguruza after a tough season beginning in Australia.

She moves up to three in the world.

The final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam saw top seed Roger Federer go on his winning way, recording a second title for 2018, defeating Grigor Dimitrov (2) 6-2 6-2

Kevin Anderson (1) defeated Sam Querrey (2) to capture the New York Open 4-6 6-3 7-6(1)

In Buenos Aires, Dominic Thiem (1) defeated Aljaz Bedene 6-2 6-4 and is the Argentina Open champion for 2018.