By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 12, 2016
Monica Puig continued her dream run defeating Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, reaching the Rio Olympic gold medal match and ensuring she will be the first Puerto Rican woman to win an Olympic medal.
Photo credit: ITF Olympic Tennis
Monica Puig's dream run took a dramatic leap into euphoria today.
Pressing her hands against her head in disbelief, Puig jumped up and down repeatedly transforming the Rio hard court into a tennis trampoline bouncing into history.
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That exuberant celebration came after Puig stunned two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, surging into the gold-medal match and ensuring she will be the first Puerto Rican woman in history in any sport to win an Olympic medal.
"I can't even believe it," Puig told Bravo Network's Trenni Kusnierek. "I was so nervous. I just wanted it so bad. I know how bad my country wanted it. Now I've secured a medal, but I know which one I want and I'm going to go for it as hard as I can tomorrow."
The 22-year-old from San Juan will take her shot at gold when she faces Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber in the gold-medal match. The second-seeded Kerber defeated seventh-seeded American Madison Keys, 6-3, 7-5, in the second semifinal. Kerber is 2-0 lifetime versus Puig, winning their first meeting at the 2013 Brisbane in a third-set tie break.
"This match you still have a chance to get a medal, but being able to secure one is a little bit of pressure off your shoulders," Puig said. "I feel like tomorrow I can go out there swinging and just enjoying that final. This is my second final of the season and what a way to do it. I'm just so excitied."
San Juan native and Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez represented the United States when she partnered Mary Joe Fernandez to win doubles gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Puig, who won her lone WTA title on the red clay of Strasbourg two years ago, started the season reaching the Sydney final. She prepared for this surprising Olympic surge arriving in Brazil early to play the Florianopolis tournament and acclimate to South American conditions.
Playing smart, tough, tactical tennis, Puig often hovered on the baseline and stood toe-to-toe with one of the biggest hitters in the game. She drained 36 unforced errors from the flat-hitting Kvitova.
In contrast to her last two matches, Puig had to fight back in both the first and second sets.
Blown out at the start of both sets today, Puig persevered to defeat a Grand Slam champion for the second time in her last three matches continuing her determined run through the draw.
Puig dismantled reigning Roland Garros champion Garbine Muguruza, 6-1, 6-1 in the round of 16 then dispatched Laura Siegemund by the same score in the quarterfinals.
Facing the powerful Czech left-hander today, Puig was overpowered at the start and overwhelming at the finish.
Whipping flat strikes into the corners, Kvitova won seven straight points surging out to a 3-0 lead—more games than Puig permitted in two of her four tournament victories.
Puig is a smoother mover than the six-foot Czech and began stretching the points testing Kvitova's lateral movement roaring back to level at 3-all.
A forehand strike down the line completed a burst in which Puig won six of seven games to snatch a one-set lead. Puig's second serve can be her most vulnerable shot, but she defended it with determination winning all six second-serve points in the 36-minute opener.
Stepping into the court, belting the ball deep and driving her opponent behind the baseline, Kvitova raced out to a 5-0 second-set lead. The left-hander fought off stiff resistance to serve out the 37-minute second set and force the decider.
Crouching low to drive through her backhand, Puig broke for a 2-0 advantage in the final set. She had opportunities to extend the lead to 3-0, but Kvitova broke right back.
A series of breaks ratcheted up the tension in the final stages. Puig scored her third break of the set for 5-3.
Serving for history, Puig showed no fear.
At 30-all, she surprised Kvitova hammering a slider serve wide for match point. When the Czech lifted a forehand deep, Puig vaulted into history.