Czech through to final in only second tournament since seven months out of tennis after knife attack
Saturday 24 June 2017 18:43, UK
Petra Kvitova reached her first grass-court final since Wimbledon 2014 and will meet young Australian hope Ashleigh Barty at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.
The two-time former Wimbledon champion was leading 6-1 1-0 when her opponent Lucie Safarova, who had had two huge matches in the previous three days, pulled out with a thigh strain.
It is only Kvitova's second tournament after seven months out of the game when she suffered appalling hand injuries due to a knife-wielding attacker at her home in the Czech Republic in December.
I'm pleased with how I am playing. I love playing finals, I like big matches, and I've missed it over the last six months. So this is quite a dream
Yet, in only her sixth match, she gathered further momentum by reaching Sunday's final but Kivitova is already beginning to suggest she can again do well at Wimbledon, which starts in nine days' time.
"It's tough to play against a friend like Lucie," Kvitova said. "It's hard to think about yourself and not your opponent. I am sorry for her and hope she soon gets a bit better.
"I'm pleased with how I am playing. I love playing finals, I like big matches, and I've missed it over the last six months. So this is quite a dream."
Kvitova will play Barty, the 21-year-old unseeded Australian who beat the twice former finalist Barbora Strycova, another Czech en route to the last four before claiming the scalp of Garbine Muguruza, the former French Open champion and 2015 Wimbledon finalist, with a stunning 3-6 6-4 6-3 comeback victory.
"I executed exactly the way I wanted to," said Barty. "I like getting purchase with my slice on the grass, and I didn't do much wrong.
"It is fantastic to see Kvitova back, and she is a weapon on grass, so hopefully I have nothing to lose in the final."
Two weeks after Jelena Ostapenko clinched the French Open, Anastasija Sevastova claimed another final spot for Latvia when she reached the final of the Mallorca grass court tournament.
The world No 19 knocked out defending champion Caroline Garcia 6-4 6-2, and will tackle Julia Goerges, the world No 54 after she beat Catherine Bellis 6-1 6-1, in Sunday's final.
For those on the move, we will have Eastbourne and Wimbledon covered via our website skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Can Petra Kvitova win The All England Club women's title this summer? Have your say...
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