Kvitova Edges Kontaveit in Power Duel, Pegula Upsets Pliskova
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QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Rohit, Pujara QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune hold fort after Axar, Ashwin show on the opening day vs England PAGE 12 FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021 Kvitova edges Kontaveit in power duel, Pegula upsets Pliskova Jabeur in three sets, lacked Qatar Total Open sharp movement and inten- sity, and Pegula took full ad- quarter-nals see vantage. former champion The American World No.44 has dropped just Kvitova survive one set this week, against Kontaveit in three Anastasia Potapova in a 6-2, 6-7(3), 7-6(6) qualify- bruising sets and ing marathon of her own, qualier Pegula reach and rarely looked like doing so again today. Finishing the biggest semi-nal points in the forecourt ef- ficiently, Pegula saved the of her career with an only break point she faced upset of Pliskova in the first set and sealed her second set point with another baseline return. AGENCIES Pliskova briefly rejuve- DOHA nated her tennis to break Pegula at the start of the PETRA Kvitova, seed num- second set, but it was short- ber four, came through a lived. The former World stellar hard-hitting clash No.1 would never reach an- 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 over Anett other game point as Pegula Kontaveit to reach her third reeled off a ‘hidden bagel’ Qatar Total Open semi-final - the last six games of the in one hour and 46 minutes match in a row, conceding at the Khalifa International only six more points. Tennis & Squash Complex on Thursday. SANIA, KLEPAC LOSE IN SEMIS In the last four, the India’s Sania Mirza and 2018 champion will face her partner Andreja Klepac qualifier Jessica Pegula, of Slovenia crashed out who needed just 57 minutes of the doubles losing 5-7, to upset No.2 seed Karolina 6-2, 5-10 to second-seeded Pliskova 6-3, 6-1. Nicole Melichar and Dutch Both players have been player Demi Schuurs in a in top form this week, thrilling 3 set contest. reaching the quarterfi- In the other semis, Mon- nals without dropping ica Niculescu (ROU) and more than five games in Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) any match, and were able knocked out top-seeded B. to bring that level against Krejcikova (CZE) and K. each other. Blistering pow- Siniakova (CZE) 2-6, 6-3, er was the order of the day, Czech Petra Kvitova is all smiles after making the semi-nals of the 10-8. with most rallies a question 19th edition of Qatar Total Open 2021 at the Khalifa International of who was going to get the Tennis & Squash Complex on Thursday. RESULTS hardest, deepest strike in first. But there was accu- champion Kvitova, a winner lead to see Kvitova over the Singles (Quarter-finals) racy as well - Kvitova and here in 2018 and runner-up finishing line, despite Kon- [WC] [8] V. Azarenka (BLR) d. [1] E. Kontaveit both finished with to Aryna Sabalenka last year, taveit’s valiant attempts to Svitolina (UKR) 6-2, 6-4 positive ratios of winners to displayed real grit to seize cling on, and the result im- G. Muguruza (ESP) d. M. Sakkari unforced errors. hold of the deciding set. The proves her head-to-head (GRE) 6-3, 6-1 Indeed, Kontaveit could former World No.2 excelled over the Estonian to 5-2. [4] P. Kvitova (CZE) d. A. Kontaveit boast a positive ratio in each on both defence and return Next up will be Pegula, who (EST) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 set: 11 to seven in the first, to come through three deuc- scored her second Top 10 win [Q] J. Pegula (USA) d. [2] Ka. nine to seven in the second es before breaking Kontaveit in a row over Pliskova to ad- Pliskova (CZE) 6-3, 6-1 and seven to four in the in the first game, and backed vance to her fourth WTA semi- third. But overall, it was Kvi- it up with ferocious fore- final, and first at 500 level. Doubles tova who landed the most le- hands to move up a double Pegula, a quarter-finalist M. Niculescu (ROU)/J. Ostapenko thal blows at the right times, break at 3-0. at the Western & Southern (LAT) d. [1] B. Krejcikova (CZE)/K. tallying 31 winners to 24 un- “I’m really glad that after Open last year and the Aus- Siniakova (CZE) 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 forced errors. losing the second set, which I tralian Open a month ago, [2] N. Melichar (USA)/D. Schuurs The Czech raced out probably didn’t play the best, I now owns a 20-7 record (NED) d. A. Klepac (SLO)/S. Mirza of the blocks, taking a 5-1 started very well in the third,” since the Tour resumption. (IND) 7-5, 2-6, 10-5. lead in just 19 minutes af- said Kvitova afterwards. Striking 20 winners to just ter a brilliant purple patch “I learned that the return seven unforced errors, the Thursday Order of Play of play. Kontaveit never was pretty good from my 27-year-old showcased a fine 4pm: Doubles backed down from her own side. I was going for it - first all-court game to take down Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Jelena commitment to taking the point, first shot - and I think 2017 champion Pliskova. Ostapenko (LAT) vs 2-Nicole Melichar ball on, and managed to get that made a big difference. Pegula took control (USA)/Demi Schuurs (NED) her teeth into the tail end of In the rally, it was 50/50 of the match immedi- Not before 6pm the set - too late to save it, and anybody could win it, ately, aiming her returns 4-Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs Q-Jessica but useful in terms of flip- but when I put the pressure deep and at Pliskova’s Pegula (USA) ping the dynamic to domi- from my return, it was really feet. The Czech, who had Followed by nate the second set. Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates defeating second seed Karolina Pliskova in straight sets very nice.” battled past midnight the WC-Victoria Azarenka (BLR)-8 vs Two-time Wimbledon at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Thursday. That proved a sufficient previous day to edge Ons Garbine Muguruza (ESP). Azarenka perseveres past Svitolina to storm into semis AGENCIES 25 winners, more than double 4-1 lead. DOHA the amount from Svitolina. Additional treatment from “I really just tried to focus the trainer followed after that VICTORIA Azarenka main- on what I could do, and not I just tried to play point by game, but Azarenka still main- tained her undefeated record think about anything else, point and not think about tained her solid form, holding against Elina Svitolina, as and try to find solutions and the score, how long it’s her serve twice more to pick the two-time Doha champion use every opportunity I had to up the one-set lead. Azarenka ousted this week’s top seed play,” Azarenka said on court going to take to play, if won three-quarters of points 6-2, 6-4 to reach the final four in her post-match interview. it’s going to be two sets off of Svitolina’s second serve at the Qatar Total Open. “I just tried to play point or three sets. in the opening frame. No.8 seed Azarenka im- by point and not think about Azarenka broke Svitolina proved to 4-0 against Svito- the score, how long it’s going Victoria Azarenka three times en route to a 5-2 lina with her 85-minute vic- to take to play, if it’s going to lead in the second set, but she tory, which propels her into be two sets or three sets,” Aza- out to have her back evaluated did not serve out the match in the 60th WTA semifinal of renka added. during the second game. that game, and failed to con- her career. “I’m really proud of the The two-time major cham- vert two match points on Svi- In her first match against a way I handled it mentally and pion would end up dropping tolina’s serve at 5-3. Neverthe- Top 20 opponent this season, how I approached this match.” that game, but still had enough less, serving for the match for Azarenka pushed past persis- Azarenka broke Svitolina zip on her returns to break a second time at 5-4, Azarenka Twice winner at Qatar Total Open in 2012 and 13, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus waves to the crowd tent pain and medical treat- in the first game of the match Svitolina in the top seed’s next got it done on her third match after defeating top-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-2, 6-4 to make the semis of the 2021 event at ment from the trainer to fire but took her first medical time- two service games and build a point with a backhand winner. the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Thursday. Sports Friday, March 5, 2021 11 Frenchman Staut wins opening day LGCT feature, continues to excel at Al Shaqab Max Kuhner wins season opening CSI5* 1.45m class TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA BIG events generally make the best rise to the occasion. On the opening day of the Doha leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT), Frenchman Kevin Staut excelled for a second time in a week as he pipped compa- triot Simon Delestre on Thurs- day for victory in the 1.55m class at the outdoor Longines Arena of Al Shaqab.