US OPEN – Petra Kvitova (5) is through to her first US Open quarterfinals with a straight sets win over qualifier Johanna Konta 7-5 6-3 in near an hour and a half. This defeat brings an end to Konta’s 16-match win streak stretching back to after her Wimbledon loss in the first round. This match seemed to be on even keel for much of it but in the end, Kvitova’s experience came through on the big moments to deliver this match. “I played against an incredibly tough player today. She doesn’t give you much rhythm. She definitely doesn’t give you many chances to be able to take control in a point,” Konta said after the match.
In the opening set, it was Konta who the more aggressive going after the Kvitova’s serve. She had 5 break point chances in the set but Kvitova remained cool under pressure to quickly erase them all. In the 12th game, serving to force the set to a tiebreak, Konta’s forehand went well long giving Kvitova a break point. Serving to stay in the set, Konta served up her first double fault of the match giving Kvitova the set advantage 7-5 in 51 minutes. The 2nd set, Kvitova stepped up her game and forced the issue. Those break points that Konta was creating in the opening set were no longer available as Kvitova dropped only 1 point on her first serve and 3 on her 2nd serve. The pressure was squarely on Konta’s shoulder and again she buckled. Kvitova broke Konta in the 8th game again when she double faulted on the break point. The number 5 player in the world then served it out 7-5 6-3.
Kvitova next faces Flavia Pennetta (26) who beat Sam Stosur (22) 6-4 6-4. Kvitova had this to say about her matchup, “Flavia is a good girl, so I’m looking forward for the match. It’s a long time we played each other, I think. I think she’s on fire. She’s playing well here. she beat Sam in two sets … It’s quarterfinals, so I don’t really think that someone easy to beat there … It’s my first time in quarters. I will enjoy that for sure.”
