Kvitova shocks Wozniacki in Doha semi-final
Petra Kvitova recovered from losing the first set to shock world number one Caroline Wozniacki and reach Sunday’s Qatar Open final.
The Czech won 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 to earn her 12th successive win and set up a final against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.
It was the world number 21’s third win over a top-10 player in Doha this week.
Kvitova, 27, who won in St Petersburg two weeks ago, is continuing her comeback following six months out after a knife attack at her home in 2016.
“I don’t know what happened,” she said. “I just came to play and I was crazy a little bit in my mind and I was playing it everywhere.”
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After losing the first set, Kvitova appeared set to become the latest player to lose to Australian Open champion Wozniacki during the 27-year-old’s impressive start to the season.
However, she took the second set to a tie-break, then won six consecutive points to clinch it 7-3.
“At 3-1 down, I was just really angry with myself so I just tried to hit some winners. That’s how that ended,” she said.
Kvitova then edged the final set 7-5 to set up a meeting with Muguruza, who advanced after Simona Halep withdrew on Friday with a foot injury.
Wozniacki, who has reached finals in Melbourne and Auckland this season, had the consolation of becoming only the fourth woman to earn $30m in career prize money.
“I think we played both really well and I can take a lot out of that,” the Dane said. “I just need to live and learn and try not to make the same mistake when I play her next time.”