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  Wuhan Open: Petra Kvitova ends title drought

Wuhan Open: Petra Kvitova ends title drought

AGENCIES
Published : Oct 2, 2016, 1:03 am IST
Updated : Oct 2, 2016, 1:03 am IST

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova kisses the trophy after winning the Wuhan Open on Saturday. (Photo: AFP)

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova kisses the trophy after winning the Wuhan Open on Saturday. (Photo: AFP)

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova ended her 13-month title drought with a straight set win over Dominika Cibulkova at the Wuhan Open on Saturday.

The former world number two appeared to be in a hurry to secure the crown — her second in Wuhan — taking just over an hour to defeat Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1.

Kvitova has had a year of stark highs and lows — scooping an Olympic bronze medal but failing to get further than the round of 16 at any of the Grand Slams.

“I need this kind of consistency all year, which to be honest, I don’t think I can really do that. I’m probably the player who has up and downs,” Kvitova told reporters after the final.

“I’m happy that my ups, they are really high, which I love of course. The downs are very low, but that’s how it is.”

The year began with a split from coach of seven years David Kotyza and she has since taken an unconventional approach to her game and paired back her time on the practice court.

“I just reduced the practices and I feel a little bit better, more in love with the tennis or something,” she said.

After the run of early round exits at the start of the year, she appears to have turned the tide in China and the Wuhan title will see her move to 11th in the rankings when next week’s leaderboard is released on Monday.

She also has an outside chance of qualifying for her fifth consecutive WTA Final in Singapore.

Cibulkova, meanwhile, is assured of a new career-high ranking on Monday — rising to number eight.

Sania-Strycova lose in final Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Barbora Strycova suffered a straight-set loss against Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova in the summit clash of the women’s doubles.

The third seeds lost 1-6, 4-6 to the fifth seeded US-Czech pair of Mattek-Sands and Safarova in the final of the $2,589,000 tournament that lasted a little over an hour.

Mattek-Sands and Safarova converted six of the eight break points that came their way, while the Indo-Czech pair squandered six out of eight.

Sania has won three titles in her last four tournaments she has played after splitting with Swiss Martina Hingis.

Location: China, Hubei, Wuhan