MELBOURNE, Jan 20, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra
Kvitova blazed her way into the Australian Open quarter-finals Sunday with an
emphatic straight sets win over American teenager Amanda Anisimova.
The Czech eighth seed downed the unseeded 17-year-old 6-2, 6-1 to set up a
last eight meeting with either five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova
or 15th seeded Australian Ashleigh Barty.
Kvitova is on a nine-match win streak this year after claiming the Sydney
International warm-up title and is yet to drop a set in four matches at the
season-opening Grand Slam.
But the 28-year-old said she was wary of Anisimova, who defeated her last
year in Indian Wells.
“It’s always difficult when you play someone who’s beaten you before,” she
said.
“I started very well and when the nerves went away I was much better.”
Kvitova’s best result at Melbourne Park was a semi-final appearance in
2012 and this year’s advance to the last eight is her most successful run
since a burglar slashed her left hand with a knife in December 2016.
The attack, which happened at her home in the Czech Republic, left
injuries which required extensive surgery and forced her out of the game for
six months.
Kvitova said she was enjoying her red-hot run of form.
“I’m feeling good. I’m really enjoying my time on the court and playing
tennis, which is the main thing for me,” she said.
Anisimova, who shares an agent with her childhood idol Sharapova, made a
nervous start, committing three unforced errors in the opening game to go
down a break.
The teenager, the youngest player to reach the fourth round at Melbourne
Park since 2006, regathered as the Czech went hunting for another break.
She double faulted and was caught off guard with a drop shot but
stubbornly defended her serve in a game that went to deuce seven times.
Kvitova was relentless though, picking off the youngster’s second serve to
snatch a second break then claiming the first set after 32 minutes.
She never looked back, racing home in the second after claiming six
straight games.