Day Seven schedule in the Miami Open - the first WTA quarter finals and ATP round of sixteen.
Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.
Defending champion:
Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1
WTA quarter finals
- Petra Kvitová (3) v Ash Barty (12)
The pair had met on four occasions, twice this year in Australia alone. Kvitová won each time.
This match was hampered by rain delays, the first a minor one after service holds and 1-1 in the opening set, then an almost two hour wait until they returned with Kvitová serving at 1-2.
Kvitová was quick to level then break the Australian serve and lead 3-2, but Barty, with backhand slice and overall pace of shot, broke back immediately and the match came alive.
Remaining on serve, Barty produced the first set point with Kvitová at the line and 5-6. It was dismissed and a tie break resulted.
Kvitová careered away to a 4-1 advantage, taking both points off Barty’s second and third serves.
Barty claimed one of the mini breaks back and trailed 2-5. Three successive points later the set was up for grabs once more. Kvitová had set point at 6-5 but it disappeared. Barty had her second set point at 7-6 and converted. 7-6(6) for the 12th seed.
Set two saw a predictable response from Kvitová, who cut down her number of unforced errors and used her powerful forehand to greater benefit. The early break for 3-0 was nullified by Barty in the fifth game but it was only a temporary respite as this was Kvitová’s stage on which to perform. The set was won 6-3.
The decider saw Barty back in front, and Kvitová beginning to fade. The scoreline rolled over in the first six games exactly as it had in set two, but this time for the Australian. After breaking the Czech serve for 4-2, nothing would stop Ash Barty, and her 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2 victory was a major breakthrough.
The first semi final appearance at a Premier Mandatory tournament.
The first victory over Petra Kvitová
A move up in the world rankings to a career high of #9
- Anett Kontaveit (21) defeated Su-Wei Hsieh (27) 3-6 6-2 7-5
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