Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova survived another tough battle and advanced to the third round in London with a 6-1 7-6(5) victory over Ana Bogdan of Romania.
Following the Rothesay International Eastbourne triumph last week, the world No.26 Kvitova continues her winning streak on grass this season, but it’s far from smooth-sailing. After surviving a scare against Jasmine Paolini in the first round at All England Club, the 2011 and 2014 Wimbledon champion withstood another major challenge, against the world No.111 Bogdan in the second round.
Kvitova raced through the first set on Court No.3 on Thursday. Only the final game of the set was a marathon, as Kvitova endangered her own service game with two double faults that helped Bogdan earn her first break point in the match. Eventually, the Czech won the long game and comfortably won the first set 6-1.
The second set seemed to be a cruise for Kvitova, until Bogdan started storming back. The fourth game, eventually won by Kvitova, featured six deuces and lasted over ten minutes. Just as it looked like Kvitova was heading to a routine victory, Bogdan won five consecutive games to go from 1-5 to 6-5, saving a match point when Kvitova served for the match the second time.
The 31st-seeded Kvitova managed to force a tiebreak, after saving one set point with an ace and the other one with a winner. The Czech then prevailed in the tense tiebreak, converting her second match point.
The 32-year-old Kvitova is one of three former champions remaining in the draw from the original five.
