Kvitova v Rybarikova in Birmingham final

Defending champion Petra Kvitova dispatched Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-3 6-2 with a powerful display to reach the final at the Birmingham Classic.

The two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova is yet to drop a set this week as she continues her preparations for next month’s grass-court Grand Slam.

Saturday’s result was Kvitova’s 51st career victory on the surface and she overtook top-ranked Simona Halep with a tour-leading 36 match wins this year.

“Amazing statistics this week,” Czech third seed Kvitova said.

“I didn’t expect that from the beginning of the season. I didn’t really start well in Australia. So far this season is incredible, and I really can’t imagine a better season so far.”

Up next for Kvitova is 2009 winner Magdalena Rybarikova, her practice partner this week and a good friend.

The 10th-seeded Rybarikova returned to the final with an impressive 7-6(1) 6-4 victory over Czech Barbora Strycova.

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The 29-year-old Slovakian came back from a break down in each set on the back of 24 winners over the course of one hour and 47 minutes.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match, because she’s such a tricky player and she’s amazingly talented,” Rybarikova, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year, said on-court.

“Maybe she was even favoured because she beat me before, and I think it was a very good match and we had some fun.”

“The funny thing is that we played against each other only in SFs or finals. I only managed to win one. Petra, when she’s on fire, you can go shake her hand and say, OK, I just want to leave from here."

Rybarikova on playing Kvitova in the Birmingham final. #NatureValleyClassic pic.twitter.com/fqhvk6XWsa

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 23, 2018