Defending champion:
Karolina Pliskova (5) who defeated wildcard CoCo Vandeweghe 7-6(2) 6-4
- Petra Kvitová (3) v Kiki Bertens (6)
These two have met four times before, three of those matches in 2018. Bertens won twice, both on hard court, while Kvitová won her match on clay.
Today, Kvitová served first, and began in fine style with a forehand cross court winner. Not to be outdone, Bertens responded with one of her own. An outstanding lob was included and an ace sealed the game for the third seed. Bertens started with an ace, but thereafter struggled on serve, and faced a break point following a Czech backhand winner down the line. The break came and Kvitová led 2-0. Bertens struck back immediately, gathering two break points, a double fault not helping Kvitová. The second break point produced the goods for Bertens, with Kvitová hitting a forehand wide.
No more issues on serve through to the end of game six, with love games for each player evidence of that. In the seventh game, Kvitová was stretched to deuce, and then Bertens had to survive a break before levelling at 4-4.
Serving at 4-5 to stay in the set, Bertens was ahead 40-30, despite a double fault. However, a netted forehand and another forehand wide gave Kvitová set point. A great first serve produced a return error and the danger subsided. The score moved to 5-5. A tie break eventuated following two comfortable service holds.
Two points against the serve and it was 2-2. Serving at 2-3, Bertens hit a backhand out of court, and trailed by a mini break. The points went to serve until Kvitová had three set points at 6-3, Bertens with two serves to come. The Dutch player bashed a forehand into the net and Kvitová was ahead 7-6(3).
Bertens opened set two impressively, holding serve easily, an ace to finish. From 30-30, Kvitová overhit a forehand and on break point Bertens smashed a backhand to which Kvitová had no answer at the net. 2-0 Bertens and looking good. Until she was broken back straight away, Kvitová calling on much of her bag of tricks, including a sizzling backhand return winner, followed by a forehand return winner just as brilliant, and to cap it off the most spectacular down the line backhand winner. 1-2
From chocolates to boiled lollies, Kvitová delivered a double fault, and two unforced forehand mistakes. A forehand down saved one break point, but another poor ground stroke confirmed the third successive service break and a 3-1 Bertens advantage.
No more break chances and Bertens served at 5-3 for the set.
Czech errors assisted Bertens to a pair of set points, and only one was required. The set was Dutch 6-3 and the match was square.
Kvitová broke Bertens in game two of set three, winning the final three points of the game - the final point showcased a massive Kvitová forehand winner. To consolidate the break, Kvitová had to save a 0-40 conundrum, created through two forehand errors and a double fault. A strong first serve, and a stunning forehand winner aided the saving of all break points, and serve was held for 3-0.
A second break of the Dutch serve occurred, and the match was fast entering Czech territory. The returning was exceptional and ground strokes pinpoint and powerful. A love game increased the lead to 5-0, a serve volley success, and backhand cross court winner featuring.
Bertens registered a score on the board, but it was only delaying the inevitable. Kvitová had three match points following a trio of return errors from Bertens, and a down the line forehand winner was an appropriate method of winning the match.
Petra Kvitová won the semi final 7-6(3) 3-6 6-1. It was a devastating final set.
- Anett Kontaveit (8) was handed a walkover by Naomi Osaka (1), and will play Petra Kvitová in the final.
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