Kvitova into Birmingham semis, Vandeweghe injury scare
Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action during her quarter final match against France's Kristina Mladenovic Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
(Reuters) - Czech Petra Kvitova continued her impressive comeback by moving into the Aegon Classic semi-finals with a 6-4 7-6(5) win over France's Kristina Mladenovic on Friday.
But American Coco Vandeweghe, who had looked in such strong form beating Johanna Konta in the previous round, had to retire with an ankle injury in her quarter-final against Spain's Garbine Muguruza.
Seventh seed Kvitova, twice Wimbledon champion, is playing in her second tournament after a lengthy layoff with a hand injury, suffered during a knife attack at her home in December.
Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action during her quarter final match against France's Kristina Mladenovic Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
But she has shown at Edgbaston that she is building up her form nicely before her return to Wimbledon, where she triumphed in 2011 and 2014.
"Both of us play really fast on this surface, the grass suits her game as well, so it was about a few points here in three, one or two key breaks in the match," Kvitova said.
It took a second-set tiebreak and one hour 43 minutes for Kvitova to secure the win which sets up a semi-final clash with compatriot Lucie Safarova.
Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova celebrates winning her quarter final match against France's Kristina Mladenovic Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Safarova came through a marathon battle with Australian Daria Gavrilova, triumphing 6-7(4) 6-3 7-6(5).
Safarova saved three match-points in the deciding set and rallied to win the last four points of the third set tiebreak to end the three-hour contest on top.
"It was such an amazing fight between the both of us and I am so happy that I won," Safarova said.
Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova during her quarter final match against France's Kristina Mladenovic Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
"I stayed positive until the end. I had a few opportunities but she was serving well. I just believed that I could pull it out and win it," she added.
Muguruza advanced to a semi-final against Australian Ashleigh Barty, who also had a walkover, with Italian Camila Giorgi retiring with a leg injury in the first set when trailing 5-2.
Vandeweghe turned her ankle going for a shot and while she tried to continue she was clearly in discomfort.
Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova shakes the hand of France's Kristina Mladenovic as she celebrates winning her quarter final match Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
(Reporting by Simon Evans, editing by Ed Osmond)
Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 France's Kristina Mladenovic in action during her quarter final match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova Action Images via Reuters/Peter CziborraTennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action during her quarter final match against France's Kristina Mladenovic Action Images via Reuters/Peter CziborraTennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 France's Kristina Mladenovic looks dejected during her quarter final match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova Action Images via Reuters/Peter CziborraTennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 23, 2017 France's Kristina Mladenovic in action during her quarter final match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova Action Images via Reuters/Peter CziborraFILE PHOTO: Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, Britain - June 22, 2017 USA's CoCo Vandeweghe in action during her second round match against Great Britain's Johanna Konta Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
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