Kvitova to face Muguruza in Qatar Open Final

November 08,2024
17-February-2018

Kvitova to face Muguruza in Qatar Open Final

DOHA, February 18, 2018-Sixteen-seed Petra Kvitova sensationally advanced into the final of the Qatar Total Open 2018 after coming back from a set down to defeat world number one Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 7-6 7-5 in 2 hours and 35 minutes on Saturday.

Playing the final in Qatar for the first time in her career, Kvitova will take on Garbine Muguruza, who had a walkover after Simonal Halep's withdrawal from the semis due to foot injury, for a shot at taking home two WTA titles in a row.

It will be the Czech's second final this month, after already winning in St Petersburg.

"I don't know what happened. I just came to play and I was crazy a little bit in my mind and I was playing it everywhere," said a jubilant Kvitova afterwards about her comeback.

Last year's finalist Wozniacki came into the matchup having lost her last three hardcourt meetings against Kvitova - a streak dating back to 2015 in New Haven - but coming off a torrid run of form that had seen her notch 12 semifinal victories in a row.

The first games of the opening set were closely contested between the two players. Wozniacki initially broke her opponent in the sixth game, before Kvitova promptly broke back a game later. The Danish world number one rallied impressively breaking immediately again and held her serve to take the first set 6-3 in just 30 minutes.

Kvitova forced a tie-break in the second set and after falling 3-1 down took the next six points to take the match to a third set which she took 7-5.

Doha would have been Wozniacki's third final this season, after Auckland and the Australian Open, but it wasn't meant to be as the Dane, last year's finalist, will now have to wait a little longer for another chance at the elusive Doha title.