Kvitova stuns Muguruza to reach US Open quarters

Petra Kvitova has produced an incredible performance to unseat tournament favourite Garbine Muguruza and seal a spot in the US Open quarterfinals.

Kvitova, who made a comeback to tennis in May following a serious hand injury caused by a knife attack in December, beat the Wimbledon champion and third seed 7-6(3) 6-3 under lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The Czech trailed 4-1 in the opening set before storming back into the match, overwhelming Muguruza with a potent combination of power, depth and relative consistency.

Kvitova’s victory sets up a blockbuster quarterfinal with Venus Williams, who earlier on Sunday overcame Carla Suarez Navarro in three sets.

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At her typically least productive and least favourite Slam, Kvitova has now reached the last eight in New York in two of the past three years. Sandwiched in between was a loss last year to eventual champion Angelique Kerber, which also occurred in the fourth round, at night, on  Ashe.

Twelve months on, Kvitova produced a far better performance to beat the tour’s form player and many people’s pick for the title.

“It was kind of a dream to come and play on the big stage (against one of) the top players in the world,” Kvitova said on court after the win, her third in four meetings with Muguruza.

“I tried to work really hard to play here again … It means a lot. It was an incredible night to play. Great crowd.

Petra Kvitova was excited for this match up. She’s been up for it all night. https://t.co/Hgi4Bo6Cx5 pic.twitter.com/JcbY23E4yJ

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 4, 2017

“It’s totally different (to reaching the quarters two years ago). After what had happened, it’s something new, and I’m really appreciative of the experience that I have right now in the life. Every moment that I’m living now is something really special. I know I didn’t have to have these moments so I’m really enjoying it more than before.”

Kvitova had before the US Open played seven tournaments in her return – which began at Roland Garros – and apart from her heartwarming run to the title in Birmingham, she had not won back-to-back matches anywhere else.

“I came here without any expectations,” she said.

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Yet somehow, she hasn’t dropped a set all week at Flushing Meadows, beating quality opposition – Jelena Jankovic, Alize Cornet, Caroline Garcia and now Muguruza – along the way.

The flawless record looked in danger of ending when the Spaniard charged to a 4-1 lead in the opening set, her steady, aggressive play contrasting sharply with Kvitova’s wild errors.

Yet the Czech, seeded 13th, settled into the match and found her rhythm; in a long sixth game she saved break points and eventually held for 2-4 with a screaming forehand winner down the line.

Needless to say, Muguruza hasn't faced this level all summer. So far it's showing.

— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) September 4, 2017

Suddenly it was 4-4, and Muguruza was on the back foot, fending off Kvitova’s powerful drives. She saved a break point in the ninth game to snap Kvitova’s run of three straight games but was broken the very next time, giving Kvitova a chance to serve for the set.

Kvitova botched that chance with a double fault and fell behind 2-0 in the tiebreak, only for Muguruza to miss a volley and double fault a little while later to hand Kvitova a set point – which she converted with an overhead winner.

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Muguruza responded strongly with an immediate break to open the second set, yet Kvitova broke straight back – at love.

And she continued that momentum, winning her fourth game on the trot when Muguruza fired a shot long to build a 4-1 lead. Muguruza simply couldn’t hang with the more powerful, relentless Kvitova, who by this point had won 10 of the last 13 games.

Muguruza looking shellshocked after losing 1st-set lead. Down 1-3 in 2nd to Kvitova. #USOpen

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) September 4, 2017

Muguruza saved a match point – brought up thanks to another forehand winner from Kvitova – in the eight game and forced Kvitova to serve for it, and it was here the Czech got a little tight.

She faced three break points in the final game before Muguruza gifted her enough errors to help her over the line.

Kvitova finished the match with 24 winners to Muguruza’s seven, and won 13 of 17 points at net. She also had 42 errors and nine double faults.

“I don’t think I can find the right words (to describe my comeback). It was a difficult time, five months was very very tough. It was a journey that I didn’t know how the journey will end,” Kvitova said.

“And if it’s ending here, on the big stage, then it’s a happy end.”

But her run at Flushing Meadows in 2017 hasn’t ended yet. She’ll be back on Tuesday to tackle Venus.