Match report
Caroline Wozniacki overcame a mid-match wobble and withstood a barrage of big hitting to get her WTA Finals title defence back on track with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Petra Kvitova.
Both players came into the contest on the back of opening defeats in round-robin play but the Danish world No 3 ended a run of four straight defeats to the Czech to stay alive in the tournament for at least one more match.
Wozniacki, who started her White Group campaign with a loss to Karolina Pliskova on Sunday, spent most of the match pinned on the baseline but her consistency and patience proved vital as she pulled away in the final set. “I played much better today. I served and returned pretty well, and moved really well against a player who is so powerful that you have to stay on your game,” Wozniacki said. “You never know what is going to happen against Petra, so I just stayed focused and got a lot of balls back.”
The match was a cagey affair from the outset with seven holds of serve in a row. But after they traded breaks as the intensity levels picked up, Wozniacki broke again to seal the opener when Kvitova blasted a forehand into the net. Kvitova took control of the second set with an early break, then lost momentum when Wozniacki took a timeout for treatment on her knee, before she regained the upper hand to level the match with a sliced backhand winner on her third set point.
Sensing her title defence was in tatters, Wozniacki regrouped to break at the start of the decider when she put away a backhand to win the longest rally of the match, and ran away with the contest as Kvitova wilted in the final set. Wozniacki sealed victory on her first match point with a big serve that Kvitova sent long, and will hope to win her final match of round robin play against Elina Svitolina to secure a semi-final berth.
“I just always believe in myself, that I am going to win when I go out on court. I was just out there, had the belief and fought to the end,” Wozniacki added.
Svitolina, meanwhile, moved one step closer to reaching the semi-finals by defeating Pliskova 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. The world No 7 Svitolina followed up Sunday’s straight sets victory over Kvitova, to make it back-to-back wins in her White Group matches. Svitolina out-served her seventh-seeded opponent, firing eight aces to triumph in an hour and 54 minutes. Agencies
Updated
Caroline Wozniacki speaks! “I’m just pleased how I kept cool out there. I didn’t think I played badly in the second set and I just had to stay focused. The level today was way better than it was on Sunday from both of us. Hopefully I get a good match on Thursday. My knee is all right. I’m going to get some treatment and thankfully I get some rest before Thursday.” That’s all from me. Thanks for reading. Bye.
Updated
Caroline Wozniacki was struggling with a left knee injury at the end of the second set but she ploughed on and has given herself a great chance of reaching the semi-finals. She plays Elina Svitolina on Thursday. As for Petra Kvitova, who plays Karolina Pliskova next, her hopes are hanging by a thread. Svitolina and Pliskova meet next.
Caroline Wozniacki beats Petra Kvitova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2!
Serving for the match, Wozniacki makes it 15-0 when she pings a backhand past Kvitova. The game goes to 15-all. But more mistakes from Kvitova hand Wozniacki two match points. Wozniacki serves down the middle and Kvitova knocks a forehand long.
Updated
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 3-6, 5-2 Kvitova* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the match, Kvitova stomps into a 40-0 lead. She holds. Wozniacki will serve for it.
Third set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 3-6, 5-1 Kvitova (*denotes server): This is a doddle for Wozniacki.
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 3-6, 4-1 Kvitova* (*denotes server): The umpire checks if Kvitova, who looks short of breath, is able to continue. She changes racquet and shrugs off the umpire’s concerns. But Wozniacki can see that Kvitova’s vulnerable and she takes advantage by breaking to love. This is probably over.
Third set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 3-6, 3-1 Kvitova (*denotes server): Kvitova wastes a break point, knocking a backhand return long. Deuce. Wozniacki holds and Kvitova, bent over double, looks like she’s struggling physically.
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 3-6, 2-1 Kvitova* (*denotes server): Kvitova hangs in there, holding despite the game going to deuce.
Third set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 3-6, 2-0 Kvitova (*denotes server): Wozniacki consolidates the break, holding to love.
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 Kvitova* (*denotes server): Kvitova has the advantage of serving first in the decider. But it’s Wozniacki who’s looking bright despite that knee injury, breaking to 15 with a backhand down the line after a tense rally.
Petra Kvitova wins the second set 6-3 to level the match!
Kvitova mercilessly attacks a weak second serve at 15-all. Then she sends a forehand down the line for two set points. Wozniacki isn’t moving well. Yet Kvitova fluffs two returns, carelessly letting the game drift to deuce. Kvitova earns another chance, though, and converts this one with a clever slice.
Updated
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 3-5 Kvitova* (*denotes server): At 15-all, Kvitova seems to pull up after jarring her right knee. Now they’re both wounded. Not it affects Kvitova here. She holds to 15.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 3-4 Kvitova (*denotes server): Striking the ball firmly, Kvitova earns a break point. Once again, she creeps ahead in this unpredictable set.
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 3-3 Kvitova* (*denotes server): That spot of treatment seems to have done the trick for Wozniacki, who quickly earns two break points. Kvitova saves the first with a driven forehand. She screams. But Wozniacki keeps her cool and beats Kvitova with a sublime backhand lob.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 2-3 Kvitova (*denotes server): Wozniacki’s back on her feet to serve. Hopefully she can continue. And the good news she holds to 15. Wozniacki asks to see her coach.
Caroline Wozniacki receives medical timeout
The Dane told the physio she’s experiencing “sharp pain” in her left knee.
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 1-3 Kvitova* (*denotes server): Wozniacki asks for the physio after drilling a backhand down the line for 30-all. One to watch. She makes two errors and Kvitova, letting out a huge roar, holds. The physio comes on for Wozniacki, who’s holding her knee.
Updated
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 1-2 Kvitova (*denotes server): At 30-15, Kvitova stoops down at her ankles to dig a brilliant backhand past Wozniacki. Shot of the match so far. The game goes to deuce. Kvitova earns a break point. Then she sees a forehand called out. She challenges. It was in! Another break!
Updated
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 1-1 Kvitova* (*denotes server): Kvitova nets a forehand to hand Wozniacki three break points. She receives a time violation before serving. Then she slaps a forehand into the net. Ouch.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 0-1 Kvitova (*denotes server): Looking for a quick response, Kvitoca knocks a couple of precise backhands away for 15-40. Wozniacki saves the first break point with a backhand down the line. But Kvitova keeps pushing and breaks when she forces Wozniacki to send a forehand long.
Caroline Wozniacki wins the first set 7-5!
Serving to stay in the set, Kvitova finds herself down 0-15 after an excellent backhand return from Wozniacki. She dusts herself down and makes it 15-all with a backhand winner. Then she misses a gimme at the net, making it 15-30. Another error hands Wozniacki two set points. Wozniacki nets a backhand. Wozniacki’s getting irritated. But she cheers up when Kvitova nets a backhand.
Updated
First set: Wozniacki* 6-5 Kvitova (*denotes sever): The first two points are shared. But Kvitova clenches her fist after rapping a backhand from left to right. You sense the match is being played on her terms. But Wozniacki’s determined not to lie down. She makes it 30-all with a backhand down the line. The game goes to deuce. Kvitova sees a break point come and go, Wozniacki serving well. Wozniacki holds. Over to Petra.
First set: Wozniacki 5-5 Kvitova* (*denotes sever): Serving to stay in the set, Kvitova nervelessly dinks for 40-0. Wozniacki tries to claw her way back into the game but Kvitova holds to 30.
First set: Wozniacki* 5-4 Kvitova (*denotes sever): Serving for the set, Wozniacki finds herself trailing 15-30. Kvitova’s game is scratchy, though, and it’s soon 30-all. Another error hands Wozniacki a set point. Kvitova saves it with a huge forehand down the line for deuce. Then she hooks a backhand pass beyond Wozniacki for her first break point, at which point Wozniacki sends a backhand slice wide.
First set: Wozniacki 5-3 Kvitova* (*denotes sever): Wozniacki wasted a break point earlier. This time she’s more patient, working Kvitova over before taking control with a fierce backhand. Wozniacki’s able to move on to a short ball and ram a forehand away to break! She’ll serve for the set.
First set: Wozniacki* 4-3 Kvitova (*denotes sever): Another uneventful hold. Wozniacki asks to see her coach, presumably just so they can discuss how well she’s serving.
First set: Wozniacki 3-3 Kvitova* (*denotes sever): At 30-0, Kvitova surprises Wozniacki with a lovely drop shot. From there, she holds without ceremony.
First set: Wozniacki* 3-2 Kvitova (*denotes sever): Wozniacki skips merrily into a 40-0 lead. Kvitova hits back with a rasping backhand winner. But it makes no difference. Kvitova has asked to see her coach.
First set: Wozniacki 2-2 Kvitova* (*denotes sever): The game goes to 30-all, at which point Wozniacki enters wall mode, forcing Kvitova to send a forehand long. The Dane can’t convert, though, netting a forehand. Deuce. Wozniacki slumps and Kvitova holds.
First set: Wozniacki* 2-1 Kvitova (*denotes sever): Wozniacki breezes into a 40-15 lead. She holds to 30. We are in the sparring stages.
Updated
First set: Wozniacki 1-1 Kvitova* (*denotes sever): Kvitova shows some smart skills at the net to make it 30-0. Then she steers a backhand away to make it 40-15. An easy hold to 30.
First set: Wozniacki* 1-0 Kvitova (*denotes sever): The match opens with Caroline Wozniacki on serve. Kvitova’s quickly on the offensive, hitting through the ball with venomous power and earning a couple of break points with some fizzing groundstrokes. She lets Wozniacki off the hook with a couple of errors, though. The game goes to deuce and Wozniacki holds.
Updated
The players are out. Tok! Tok! Tokity Tok! They’re knocking up.
These two have met 13 times. Petra Kvitova leads the head-to-head 8-5. She’s also won their last four matches.
Preamble
Hello. “Life makes me happy,” Petra Kvitova said after her comprehensive defeat to Elina Svitolina in her opening match at the WTA Finals. It was a positive message from the two-time Wimbledon champion and maintaining that kind of mentality should help her in her quest to bounce back against Caroline Wozniacki today. Delivered from another athlete, that quote might have sounded like loser talk. But given that Kvitova is fortunate merely to be alive after suffering terrible injuries to her left hand during a knife attack in her home in December 2016, it isn’t hard to understand her reactions after losing a tennis match. From the Czech’s perspective, simply making it to the season’s finale is a victory on its own.
Given that she’s in Singapore, though, Kvitova might as well do all she can to make her stay last as long as possible. But this is a tricky assignment. Wozniacki, who also needs to kickstart her tournament after losing her opener to Karolina Pliskova, has also demonstrated resolve during her career. The Dane was once mocked for being a world No1 without a grand slam. Yet Wozniacki had the last laugh when she beat Simona Halep in this year’s Australian Open final and she can also draw on the experience of winning this tournament last year. She might have the edge, especially on a court that’s been playing quite slowly.
Play begins at 12.30pm BST.
