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Kvitova eases past Konta to reach Wuhan Open semis

Xinhua, September 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former champion Petra Kvitova produced a vintage performance to brush aside Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals of Wuhan Open on Thursday.

After a three hours and 20 minutes duel Wednesday with world No. 1 Angelique Kerber of Germany, the Czech wisely kept her time on court to a minimum, completing a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the Britain's 11th seed in an hour and 30 minutes.

"I served better than yesterday and that helped me a lot. I mean, without a serve it's almost impossible to win a match, especially as it was only one break in each set," Kvitova said. "It was difficult mentally as well to come back from yesterday - I definitely don't feel 100 percent yet."

She hid any lingering weariness well, pinning Konta behind the baseline and offering up precious few opportunities on her serve. When she did come under pressure she defused the situation, wiping out Konta's solitary break point in the opening set thanks to a swinging wide serve and a forehand into the open court.

Opportunities in the second set were few and far between, too, and when Kvitova whipped a forehand past the Brit to break to love in the fifth game the writing appeared on the wall. Konta, who knew defeat would dent her hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals Singapore, battled gamely to the end but never looked like turning the tide.

In the semifinals, Kvitova will renew hostilities with Simona Halep of Romania. Their only meeting this year went Halep's way, as she inflicted a rare Fed Cup defeat on the Czech in February's World Group showdown.

"We haven't played for a while. I saw the score and she played great today, but it's a new day and I will do everything possible, try my best. I lost to her last time so I have something to work on for tomorrow. I know how well she's playing so I need to be ready."

Halep has secured a spot at this year's WTA Finals Singapore. The Romanian joins Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams in the singles field.

It's her third consecutive qualification at the WTA Finals by reaching the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over America's Madison Keys.

No. 9 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia rallied past third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 1-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4. The former US Open champion will face the winner between Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic. Endit