By Tennis Now | Sunday, April 28, 2019
Petra Kvitova charged past Anett Kontaveit, 6-3, 7-6 (2), to become the first woman to win two WTA titles in 2019.
Photo credit: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Petra Kvitova understands the twists and turns of the tennis journey more than most.
Riding shotgun with a friend from her Czech Republic home to Stuttgart last week, Kvitova spent much of today's final with her eyes riveted on the ball rallying occupying the driver's seat.
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Accelerating through her flat strikes with purpose, Kvitova beat Anett Kontaveit, 6-3, 7-6 (2), to capture her 27th career title—and a blue Porsche—at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old Czech is the first woman to win two WTA titles this season snapping a streak of 18 different champions.
The two-time Wimbledon winner is a champion for all surfaces. Kvitova opened the year edging Ashleigh Barty to win Sydney on hard court and now owns her first Stuttgart title on red clay.
Dictating play with her lefty side-spinning serve and first-strike skills, Kvitova blew open a 2-all tie with a burst of aggression. The Australian Open finalist won 12 of 14 points to seize a 5-2 lead before serving out a one-set lead at 30.
The eighth-seeded Estonian broke Kvitova twice in succession to start the second set, but Kontaveit couldn't make those leads stick.
Serving at 4-5, Kvitova denied a pair of set points navigating a hard-fought hold.
The tie breaker was all Kvitova as she stormed out to a 6-0 lead. Three points later, Kvitova closed a 90-minute victory flinging her Wilson racquet aside and raising her arms in triumph.