By Tennis Now | Wednesday, May 2, 2018
No. 2-seeded Petra Kvitova did not face a break point overpowering Russia's Natalia Vikhlyantseva, 6-3, 6-1, at the Prague Open.
Photo credit: tk Sparta Prague / Pavel Atriplex (Sport-pics. (CZ)
Home favorites set up a Czech quarterfinal clash in Prague.
Petra Kvitova did not face a break point overpowering Russia's Natalia Vikhlyantseva, 6-3, 6-1, to move into the last eight at the J&T Banka Prague Open today.
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Kvitova cranked nearly four times as many winners (16 to 4) and converted all four of her break points in a 56-minute dismissal.
The second-seeded Kvitova, who captured back-to-back titles in St. Petersburg and Doha earlier this year, is bidding for her 23rd career title and first clay-court crown since she won the 2015 Madrid championship.
The two-time Wimbledon winner, who has permitted just eight games in two matches, will meet compatriot Katerina Siniakova for a final four spot.
The 21-year-old Czech advanced to her third quarterfinal of the season and first since St. Petersburg in February with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 decision over Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The eighth-seeded Siniakova, who partnered Belinda Bencic to the 2015 Prague doubles crown, arrived in Prague mired in a three-match losing streak. She will square off against Kvitova for the first time.
Camila Giorgi swept lucky loser Tamara Korpatsch, 6-4, 6-2, exploiting 10 double faults from the 151st-ranked German.
The 26-year-old Italian posted her sixth victory in her last eight matches.
Giorgi reached her second straight quarterfinal and third of the season.
The world No. 58 will play either 2010 Roland Garros finalist Samantha Stosur or Czech Denisa Allertova for a semifinal spot.
Shuai Zhang eliminated Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 6-4, 6-4.
The sixth-seeded Chinese will play Italian lucky loser Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals.
An inspired Paolini backed up her upset of third-seeded Daria Kasatkina yesterday with a 6-4, 6-1 conquest of wild card Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.