Kvitova takes down Kerber in Tokyo
Petra Kvitova triumphed at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo with a see-saw 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 victory over Angelique Kerber.
In an all left-handed final Kvitova fired a backhand winner to break for 2-0 in the first set and survived two break points to hold for 4-1. The Czech, a winner in Dubai earlier in the year, converted her first set point in the seventh game when Kerber sent a wild forehand well wide.
In the first game of the second set Kerber chased down a drop shot and put away a short forehand to get the break and the momentum of the match changed.
The German 5th seed rattled through the following five games to win the set at love and level the match.
However Kvitova held from 15-30 in the first game of the third and broke for 2-0 when Kerber double faulted. Kvitova went onto break again for 4-0 but was pegged back to 4-2 by the German.
Kerber staved off two match points in the seventh game and reached break point with Kvitova serving at 5-3. The Czech saved it with a forehand volley and converted her fourth match point with a deep forehand that forced an error from Kerber.
Stat Attack – Kvitova
- With her 11th career title Kvitova vaults back up into the top 10 at No.7 in this week’s rankings
- The Czech has played a tour leading 32 three set matches in 2013 with a 21-11 record
Stat Attack – Kerber
- The Germans victories in Tokyo over Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki were her first top 10 wins of 2013
Raonic beats Berdych for Bangkok crown
Milos Raonic won the Thailand Open title in Bangkok with a 7-6(4), 6-3 upset of top seed Tomas Berdych.
The Canadian No.1 had defeated second seed Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals and proved the stronger against the Czech World No.6 in the final.
In a service dominated match, Raonic saved a set point at 5-6 in the first set before taking the tie-break. The 3rd seed broke for 2-0 in the second and maintained the lead blasting a forehand winner on match point to clinch his 5th career singles title.
Stat Attack – Raonic
Stat Attack – Berdych
- The Czech falls to an 0-3 record in 2013 finals and is the only player in the top 10 without a title this season
Sousa comeback denies Benneteau in Kuala Lumpar
Portugal’s Joao Sousa was victorious at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpar after saving a match point to defeat Julien Benneteau 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.
2012 finalist Benneteau dominated the opening set with two breaks of serve and appeared to be on track to lift the first singles title of his career in his ninth final.
The French 5th seed reached match point on Sousa’s serve in the 10th game of the second set but the Portuguese player saved it with a forehand passing shot.
Sousa, who upset top seed David Ferrer in the quarter finals, broke in the following game and subsequently levelled the match before claiming an early break in the decider. Sousa served out for victory after two hours and 18 minutes for his first ATP World Tour singles title.
Stat Attack – Sousa
- Sousa is the first Portuguese player to win an ATP World Tour singles title
- Having also reached the semi-finals in St.Petersburg the week before; Sousa has moved up 38 places in two weeks to a new career high ranking of 51st
Stat Attack – Benneteau
- The Frenchman has reached at least one singles final for each of the last six seasons