33-year-old Czech Republic tennis player Petra Kvitova upset the hottest female player on the tour, Elena Rybakina, to capture her first career Miami Open title.
Kvitova outserved her opponent and outlasted her in an over twenty-minute grueling 30-point first-set tiebreaker.
turning up the Miami heat a few more notches 🔥@Petra_Kvitova closes out a fantastic opening set of tennis, 7-6(14)!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/fdoW6Gc1o0
— wta (@WTA) April 1, 2023
That proved to be the key to the match because she quickly ran to the finish in the second set with a score of 6-2.
With the win, Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon Champion, captures her 30th career title, 20 of which are on hard courts.
🎊 raise it HIGH 🎊@Petra_Kvitova | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/XwpUAneacc
— wta (@WTA) April 1, 2023
She came into the tournament ranked 15th in the world and had a great March 2023 making it to the quarterfinals at Indian Wells before winning the Miami Open.
Kvitova Is A Player That Spans The Generations
Kvitova is a player who spans the old and new generations.
She played retired Grand Slam champions Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, and Ash Barty.
Ash Barty in 2019:
vs Petra Kvitova: 0-2.
vs anyone not named Petra Kvitova: 8-0. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/DCAcwskcFb
— bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus) January 22, 2019
Kvitova is also taking on the next generation at a time when there were talks of retirement.
Those talks will have to hold off as Kvitova sees what the rest of the year brings; Wimbledon is her favorite Grand Slam.
If she continues at this level, she would be considered one of the favorites in June/July at the All England Club.
She Has Overcome Extreme Adversity
Every athlete has his or her share of adversity to overcome to accomplish great feats.
Kvitova’s adversity came off the court with a terrifying home invasion on December 20, 2016.
The attacker posed as a repair person who said he needed to check the boiler in her flat.
He brutally cut her left hand as she tried to defend herself.
Tendons and nerves in her hand (she is a left-handed server) and her fingers were barely hanging on.
Kvitova was lucky to be alive; however, her tennis career was very much up in the air.
Doctors gave her a less than 10% chance of ever playing professional tennis again.
Petra Kvitova is the Miami Open champion.
Nearly 7.5 years since she was stabbed in a home invasion, the 33 yr old has her 30th career title, def. Elena Rybakina 7-6, 6-2.
One of the kindest players on tour, Petra's one of the sport's best stories of perseverance.
Amazing. pic.twitter.com/A95umScpou
— Ben Lewis (@BenLewisMPC) April 1, 2023
She Is Engaged To Her Coach
Kvitova has proven to be tough and resilient and has also found love.
She is engaged to be married to her coach, former Czech Republic tennis player 44-year-old Jiří Vaněk.
Two time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced her engagement to coach Jiri Vanek at Wimbledon.
Congratulations Petra & Jiri ♥️💍 pic.twitter.com/3eiQt4M25j
— Sports Freak (@OfficialSfreak) August 24, 2022
They got engaged at Wimbledon last year.
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