Serena Williams’ stunning 27-match winning streak was snapped in resounding fashion on Friday by Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, who progressed to the Madrid Open final 6-2, 6-3.
Kvitova was set to face Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova in yesterday’s final after she also pulled off a big upset in beating defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-4.
However, there was no such upset for home favorite and four-time champion Rafael Nadal as he moved into the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Grigor Dimitrov.
Photo: Reuters
Andy Murray is also safely into the semi-finals for the first time in Madrid on clay as he overcame a hobbled Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-5.
Kvitova has only recently returned to the tour following a two-month break after admitting to feeling physically and mentally exhausted, but she looked the fresher player in wrapping up victory in just over an hour on court.
“I was very slow off the mark. After my serve, I wasn’t moving as well as I should have. I wasn’t in it, I wasn’t Serena today,” 19-time major winner Williams said.
Photo: AFP
Wimbledon champion Kvitova reeled off four consecutive games from 2-2 to take the first set.
She then moved 5-1 up in the second set as the Czech went on to celebrate her first victory over Williams in six attempts.
“It is a special day for me and I am happy it is in a semi-final here in Madrid so I can play the final,” Kvitova said.
Kuznetsova also kept her fairytale return to form going as she scored her first victory over Sharapova in seven years to reach her first premier mandatory final since 2009.
“This week I was fighting. I was a little bit lucky in some moments,” Kuznetsova said.
Defending champion Sharapova was the heavy favorite to reach the final for a third consecutive year.
However, it was the two-time Grand Slam champion Kuznetsova who dictated and did not drop her serve once in the match.
“I don’t think it caught me by surprise. I’m playing in a semi-final of a tournament, you have to be ready for it. She was just the better player,” Sharapova said.
Nadal won five of the last six games to set up a semi-final meeting with Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
Sixth seed Berdych saved a match point in the second set before seeing off giant US 16th seed John Isner 3-6, 7-6(9/7), 7-6(7/1).
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