The 12th in the world, aged 33, will try to win a 9th title in the WTA 1000, a category just below the Grand Slams, five years following the last won in Madrid.
But she will have a hard time dealing with the player in great shape at the moment, in search of the “Sunshine Double” in the wake of her victory in Indian Wells, a double achieved in the same year by four players so far: Steffi Graf twice , Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek.
In the meantime, she once more took the upper hand once morest Cirstea (74th), with a seventh victory in eleven confrontations, who had nevertheless made a better start in this meeting, since she led 5-2 and was even two points from the set. in the next game.
And the 32-year-old Romanian, who had created the surprise by leaving the world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, will be able to harbor regrets for not having then materialized her two set points at 5-3 on Kvitova’s service. Because the latter was able to reverse the situation by winning the next four games.
In the process, the Czech broke her rival from the start, maintaining this advantage until the end, without ever being worried regarding her commitment, to finish in 1h41.
© 2023 AFP
