Kvitova Bests Barty In Sydney Thriller

Petra Kvitova is in fine form heading into the season’s first Grand Slam. The Czech lefty collected her second Sydney title beating Australian hope Ash Barty 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(3).

Kvitova, who has never lost to Barty, had to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the decider.

“I left everything out there, I was cramping in the end,” Kvitova told the media, during her post-match press conference. “It was such a great final, to be honest, I think. It was a big fight until the end. That’s the way [a] final should be.”

Kvitova served for the match at 6-5, but fatigue got the best of her. She was eventually able to close it out in a breaker.

“I didn’t feel the best,” Kvitova said of that moment. “I was exhausted. I had cramps, as well. I didn’t feel well from my stomach, as well. It was a long match, and I really need lots of energy, so every time I was on the bench I was still eating something. It was a lot of sugar.”

Barty finished runner-up in Sydney for a second straight year.

“I feel sorry for her that she couldn’t make it today, unfortunately, but she really put everything out there today, and she really played a great game,” Kvitova continued. “For sure, if she’s gonna play like this whole season, then there is no chance she will not make [the Top 10].”

Kvitova now had won six titles since the start of 2018. And her ranking will move from No. 8 to 6 as she heads to Melbourne.

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