Petra Kvitova Wins Dubai Without Her Coach

Written by: Staff on 25th February 2013

Petra Kvitova Wins Dubai Without Her Coach

epa03597245 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova holds the trophy after winning the final match against Sara Errani of Italy at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 23 February 2013. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova won her first title since last August as she came out on top in the withdrawal hit Dubai Duty Free Championships. And the eighth ranked Czech did it on a week when her regular coach David Kotyza was away on vacation.

Kvitova benefitted from the absence of world no.1 and no.2 Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, who both pulled out of the event soon after arriving in Dubai, and beat Italian Sara Errani in an undulating final by 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 to take the first prize of $US 442,198.

Speaking about Kotyza’s absence, Kvitova said: “I hope he is happy. It was something special. I am here alone. Sometimes it is difficult to go on court and think about the game by myself.”

Kvitova led the Czech Republic to the Fed Cup title last year but has struggled with her confidence in recent months and crashed out of the Australian Open to Britain’s Laura Robson last month when she hit 18 double faults in three sets after taking an early and seemingly invincible lead.

Things looked like going in a similar direction as Kvitova was dominant in the first set against seventh ranked Errani but another eight doubles came off the Czech racket before she finally showed mental strength to claim back control in the third set.

“It was up and down, but I can say I was focused and calm, which was important after the second set,” admitted Kvitova who had never previously won a match in two previous visits to Dubai. “It was important to stay in the game and to do my best and to be aggressive.”

The Italian Errani had lost all three previous meetings against Kvitova in straight sets, but snatched the upper hand in the second set by playing a far more enterprising brand of tennis; rushing the net with serve and volley.

Kvitova took a bathroom break between the second and third sets and it proved a wise decision as she came through a mini crisis at 0-40 to make it 2-1, and did not lose another game.

“I was quite down,” she said of the decision to leave the court after the second set. “I mean, I was in the locker room and I was thinking that, really, that I must stay positive – and just play.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Czech tennis news, Dubai Duty Free Championships, Errani, Petra Kvitova, Sports, Tennis, Wta