By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, April 22, 2016
Petra Kvitova was in no mood for drama today.
A day after Kvitova saved three match points edging Monica Niculescu, she put the hammer down on Garbine Muguruza.
Watch: Decision in Sharapova Case Coming Soon
The fifth-seeded Czech subdued Muguruza, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0, to set up an all-lefty Stuttgart semifinal with reigning champion Angelique Kerber, who was the first to advance to the final four.
"I think it's very tough because I wasn't playing bad, you know," Muguruza told WTATennis.com of the final set shutout. "I was running and trying to fight for every point but she was coming with great shots.
"And then, I was like, I'm playing good and it's like 3-0, 4-0, 5-0. So, I know with this kind of players, with Petra if she's playing good, she hits everything."
The second-seeded Kerber conquered Carla Suarez Navarro, avenging a 2014 Stuttgart loss to the Spaniard. It was the Australian Open champion's fourth win over Suarez Navarro in six meetings.
Five of the world's Top 10 contested quarterfinals today and by the time the dust settled two Germans were through to the final four.
Stuttgart resident Laura Siegemund continued her clay-court tear.
The 71st-ranked German qualifier stunned fourth-seeded Simona Halep, 6-1, 6-2, yesterday. Siegemund backed up that career-best victory sweeping 2015 US Open finalist Roberta Vinci, 6-1, 6-4 in a tidy 76-minute triumph.
Siegemund, who is projected to rise to a career-high rank of No. 55, will take on either top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska or eighth-seeded Karolina Pliskova next.
Contesting her third Stuttgart quarterfinal, Kvitova powered through the opening set serving 73 percent and playing confident first-strike tennis.
After a calming visit from coach Sam Sumyk, Muguruza broke at love for a 4-2 second-set advantage. Kvitova can complicate matters for herself rushing shot selection and scattering errors in bunches.
Though her level of play dipped in the second set, Kvitova regrouped in the decider. She hit three of her six aces and served 70 percent in the final set advancing to her first semifinal since the WTA Finals last October.
The seventh-ranked Czech has won four of seven meetings with Kerber, including a 2012 Stuttgart quarterfinal victory.
"I lost to her in Singapore, unfortunately. I know how dangerous she is," Kvitova said. "She is playing a good game right now as well, but I'm in the semifinal now, I have three matches. I think that can help me with the feeling of the balls and everything. Lefties will be different for sure but I'm used to it."
Five of their seven meetings have gone the distance.