Thiem, Kvitova among weekend title winners

Dominic Thiem capped an impressive week in Barcelona with a straight-sets demolition of Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final.

From 3-0 down, Thiem won 12 of the next 13 games against a physically compromised opponent to win 6-4 6-0.

Medvedev required treatment on his right shoulder late in the first set, and was no match for a relentless Thiem, who became just the second player after Roger Federer to win multiple ATP titles in 2019.

“I had some trouble at the beginning, it was 0-3, he doesn’t miss any balls,” said Thiem, who also beat Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the semifinals.

“My biggest weapon against him was my slice, which I put into my game very well and I think that’s the only key against him. If you play from the baseline he doesn’t miss, so I had to play a little bit differently.

“It’s such an honour to be at this tournament, the best players in history have won here, I’m very happy and very proud that my name is also here.”

Kvitova reigns supreme in Stuttgart

REUTERS – Petra Kvitova beat Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-3 7-6(2) to win Stuttgart’s Porsche Grand Prix for her second title of the year as she prepares for next month’s French Open.

Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, broke her opponent to go 4-2 up in the first set and served out the set a little later on the quick indoor clay courts in Stuttgart.

The Czech had to work much harder in the second set as she had to save two set points at 5-4 as Kontaveit had her pinned to the baseline.

However, the Estonian, who received a walkover into the final after top seed Naomi Osaka pulled out from their last four clash due to injury and also benefitted from Victoria Azarenka’s injury-induced retirement in the quarterfinals, missed her chances and allowed Kvitova to come back.

Kvitova raced to a 6-0 lead in the tiebreak before sealing victory two points later.

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“I’m so glad that I reached the final, already. I’ve been in semifinals before but not in the final,” Kvitova told wtatennis.com.

“Of course, winning this trophy and a beautiful car is a big bonus. And I’m glad that I actually broke my streak losing in the final as well.”

Kvitova becomes the first player to win multiple WTA titles in 2019.

Berrettini wins in Budapest

REUTERS – Italy’s Matteo Berrettini came back from a set down to beat Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 4-6 6-3 6-1 to win the Hungarian Open in Budapest on Sunday.

Berrettini, who beat two seeded players en route to the final, won his second career ATP Tour title and also his second on clay after winning his first at the Swiss Open last year.

Matteo Berrettini is victorious in Budapest! ????

The Italian defeats Filip Krajinovic 4-6 6-3 6-1. pic.twitter.com/IkJgtlnZJ0

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 28, 2019

Berrettini seemed to be in control at 4-3 in the opening set but Krajinovic only needed to convert one break point to take advantage and eventually clinch the set on serve.

However, the Italian bounced back in the second and served much better than his opponent to get back into the contest. Berrettini then broke the Serbian in the very first game of the final set and took a 2-0 lead.

A shaken Krajinovic did not recover and the 23-year-old Italian went on to convert three of four break points to win the match.

Martic claims first WTA title in Istanbul

REUTERS – Croatia’s Petra Martic fought back from a set down to beat Marketa Vondrousova 1-6 6-4 6-1 to win her first WTA title at the Istanbul Cup.

Martic, 28, took an hour and 49 minutes on centre court on Sunday to beat her 19-year-old Czech opponent who is now yet to beat Martic in four attempts.

Petra Martic wins her first title! ????

She claims the @istanbul_cup final over Vondrousova 1-6, 6-4, 6-1! pic.twitter.com/8VAT8XWR8R

— WTA (@WTA) April 28, 2019

Martic, ranked 40 in the world, won her first final on her third attempt while this was Vondrousova’s second loss in a final this season after losing the Hungarian Open final in February.

“You guys kept cheering me on when I thought I had no chance for me to win,” a grateful Martic told the crowd. “You kept believing in me and helped me get through this match today.”

In the end, Martic managed to get the better of her opponent as Vondrousova’s unforced errors count climbed to 37, of which 29 came in the last two sets.

It was a memorable victory for the sixth-seeded Martic, who feared her career had come to an end two years ago with a back injury and has been working her way up the rankings ever since.

Petra-Palooza!

Petra Kvitova wins @PorscheTennis.

Petra Martic takes the title @istanbul_cup.

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) April 28, 2019

The victory in Istanbul could propel her into the top 32 in the world rankings, which would give her a seed at next month’s French Open.