Petra Kvitova won seven games in a row to recover from a major deficit in the first set and shake up Sorana Cirstea‘s confidence before cruising through the second set and into the final of the 2023 Miami Open.
The world No.74 Cirstea converted her fourth break point to establish a 4-2 lead in the first set and at 5-3 had an opportunity to serve it out. That’s when the 15th-seeded Kvitova started roaring back, winning seven consecutive games to clinch the opening set and go 2-0 up in the second.
There is no other player on the WTA Tour whom Cirstea has faced more times than Kvitova, but the Romanian still couldn’t find the way to fight back and overturn their 11th meeting as the Czech firmly held on to the lead established early in the second set and closed the match 7-5 6-4.
Did you know? Kvitova is making her 99th appearance at a WTA 1000 tournament, second most since the level was introduced in 2009.
The world No.12 Kvitova is projected to move to No.11 by reaching the semifinals. In order to return to the Top 10, the Czech would need to win the title. Cirstea’s success in Miami will lift her to No.41 in the new WTA rankings.
Kvitova’s opponent in the Miami Open final will be Elena Rybakina, who is on a 13-match winning streak and looking to sweep the Sunshine Double. Their head-to-head record is 1-1, with Kvitova winning their last encounter, early this year in Adelaide. (photo: Jimmie48)
