Kvitova Claims Miami Masters Title Over Rybakina

In a battle of Wimbledon champions, the veteran Petra Kvitova got over on the reigning queen Elena Rybakina 7-6(16-14), 6-2 to win her first Miami Masters title.

The 33-year-old Kvitova collected her 30th career title and ninth at the WTA 1000 level.

“I think the experience today played a good role in my mind, to be honest,” said Kvitova. “I played so many finals. I know I can play well in the final no matter who I’m facing. So that’s I think mentally was very important for me to know that from all experience. Yeah, of course this means a lot. The young ones are coming up all the time. It’s tough to really face them all the time.”

In a tight first set, Kvitova broke first for 5-4 but failed to close it out. The lefty fended off five set points in the ensuing breaker, eventually winning it on her sixth!

With Rybakina dismayed over the missed chances in the first, the Belarussian quickly got down love-40 to start the second and eventually broke. Kvitova broke again and had a point for 4-0 but end was written.

Kvitova finished with five aces, won 12/16 (75%) on second serves, was broken once, Kvitova broke serve three times in the match. She lost just four total points in serve in the second.

“The tiebreak was deciding today I think, to all the match,” Kvitova said. “I think it was the longest one I ever played in my life, and it was like, yeah, if I didn’t serve, I couldn’t be there. I mean, I got like three aces at the beginning, and it was tough. I had a break like in the first set, and she broke me back. It’s nothing easy to be hanging out with Elena as I did today.”

Rybakina had 12 aces but struggled on second serve as the 23-year-old falls short of a “Sunshine Double” and sees her 13 match win streak come to an end.

“Maybe if the first set would have gone my way, the second would have been different, but of course because I was physically a bit tired, I think that’s why I didn’t have discipline in the important moments,” Rybakina said. “I was also making some stupid decisions on the court, so I think just overall, but Petra played well. Hopefully next time it’s going to go my way.”

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