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29 March 2024

Kvitova wins Dubai Tennis Championship

Petra Kvitova claimed the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title on Saturday when she held off a strong challenge from Sara Errani to win 6-2 1-6 6-1.

Published
By Ajanta Paul

Petra Kvitova from Czech Republic won the $2 million Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship defeating Italian Sara Errani, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1.

The final was attended by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, President of Tennis Emirates.

It was a cake walk for Kvitova with little resistance from Errani in the first set, winning it in 36 minutes. Kvitova came into the match as a favourite having defeated Caroline Wozniacki in a stunner of a match.

Errani lost the first four points and her serve, and Kvitova won the first set handily.

However, Errani gathered her confidence in the second set and managed to turn it to her favour.

The Czech appeared to lose her focus in the second, committing consecutive double faults and winning just one game in the set.

Errani charged the net and surprised Kvitova with drop shots.

"She (Kvitova) was hitting so strong, making winners everywhere. I had to change something to try to win the match, and I did on the second set, tried to go more on the net, be more aggressive.  And that's it.  On the baseline she was playing unbelievable, so it was very tough.  Just to try to make her pressure somewhere.  That's it."

This is former Wimbledon champion Kvitova's first title in six months.

"It was great final, and I think that Sara played so well," said the 2013 champion. "It was really tough to beat her. She came back in the second set. She played really well. She was going for the net a lot, and that was a little bit problem for me.

"It was very important to stay positive in the third and still fight about every point. I know that I have to fight like every ball, because she was really on fire in the second and she continued in the third. I was just thinking that I can't give up and just fought for every point."

Kvitova, ranked one spot below Errani at No. 8, also beat the Italian en route to her previous title — her ninth — in New Haven on the eve of the U.S. Open.

But this was their toughest encounter.

In the deciding set, Kvitova recovered saving break points and in the process renewed her confidence.

Errani succumbed to Kvitova's powerful passes and went down fighting in 1 hour 40 minutes.