By Erik Gudris | @ATNTennis | Saturday, September 3, 2022
Petra Kvitova saved two match points and won a tense final set match tiebreak to defeat Garbine Muguruza.
Photo credit: Getty
In one of the best matches of the event so far, and likely the year, Petra Kvitova secured a massive comeback win over Garbine Muguruza to reach the US Open fourth round for the first time since 2017.
The No. 23 seed Kvitova saved two match points and won a tense final set match tiebreak to edge out No. 9 seed Muguruza 5-7, 6-3 7-6(10).
Kvitova after the match, when asked how she was able to save both match points in the second set, said she found inspiration from watching Serena Williams save five match points in her third round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic.
“I watched Serena last night and it was amazing how she saved all those match points. So I tried to do the same.”
Kvitova was all smiles after the match, but she had to endure a tough battle to earn her way to the next round.
The two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova managed to open up a 4-2 lead in the first set. However, Muguruza, a two-time major winner herself, broke right back. At 5-all, Kvitova threw in three double faults that helped Muguruza take the game and then eventually the set for 7-5. Double faults plagued Kvitova’s game throughout the match and threatened to derail her chances for victory.
Kvitova balanced that with finding big aces when she needed them. That happened in the second set when Kvitova once again held a 4-2 lead. This time, she didn’t let her advantage slip away. With her 11th ace so far on the day, Kvitova served her way into a decider with the Spaniard.
The final set proved to be a true roller coaster that pushed both players, and the fans watching on Louis Armstrong Stadium to the edge of both excitement and delirium as the quality of play and drama increased.
Muguruza took command of the final set and looked poised to earn just her second victory over Kvitova in their eighth career meeting.
Muguruza jumped out to a 5-2 lead, yet Kvitova was not done. Kvitova battled back to 5-all, yet the tide turned again in Muguruza’s favor.
Now leading 6-5, Muguruza held two match points on Kvitova’s service game. Kvitova erased them both, one with an ace, and the other after her opponent netted a forehand.
Kvitova then finally managed to win the ten-minute game for 6-all. With both players aiming for the lines in the final set super tiebreak, who would finally seize the momentum was anyone’s guess.
Kvitova surged out to a 7-4 lead, but Muguruza then saved two match points herself. The tiebreak eventually went to 9-all, and then 10-all, before Kvitova secured a fifth match point.
A final Muguruza error sealed the dramatic victory for Kvitova. After both women embraced at the net, Kvitova managed a fist pump to her team while Muguruza left the court in tears.
It’s a bitter loss for Muguruza who now finishes the season not having reached the second week at a major since 2013.
"Sometimes it’s easier, sometimes it’s tougher to fight against someone like Garbine," Kvitova said after the match. "I know I was leading in the head-to-head but you never really know, especially at the Grand Slams."
Kvitova will next face Jessica Pegula for a place in the quarterfinals.