World No 10 picks up 24th WTA title of her career and fourth in 2018
Monday 14 May 2018 10:34, UK
Petra Kvitova became the first woman to win three Madrid Open titles after edging a titanic tussle against Kiki Bertens in the final.
The marathon encounter lasted two hours and 54 minutes, with world No 10 Kvitova eventually prevailing 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-3.
The Czech adds to her 2011 and 2015 triumphs in the Spanish capital, while it's also her fourth tournament win of the year, and biggest since returning to the WTA Tour after a knife attack in December 2016.
Both players missed break-point opportunities in the opening two games as a tense first set ensued.
The pair then traded breaks midway through before heading to a tie-break, and though Kvitova squandered two set points, the two-time Wimbledon champion clinched it 8-6 at the third time of asking.
After a tight 74-minute first set, a similarly edgy second followed, and after Bertens failed to convert two break points in the fifth game, she achieved the feat two games later before going on to level the match.
There were more lengthy games at the start of the third set as both once again missed break-point chances, and though Kvitova took control to lead 4-2, Bertens dug deep to break back a game later.
However, Bertens' resolve ended there, as Kvitova broke once again before serving to love to pick up her 24th career singles title.
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