Petra Kvitova conquers the Apia International Sydney 2015

Petra Kvitova has powered her way to her first Apia International Sydney trophy with a stylish victory over Karolina Pliskova in Friday night’s women’s final. The reigning Wimbledon champion outclassed her fast-rising compatriot 7-6(5) 7-6(6) in the first all-Czech final at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre. 

 All power and precision, Kvitova quelled Pliskova’s tenacious challenge in one hour and 52 minutes to secure her 15th career title. Ominously for her rivals, the straight-sets victory marked only the second time Kvitova had ever hoisted a trophy the week before the season’s first Grand Slam. After reigning in Brisbane in 2011 as a little-known 20-year-old ranked 34th in the world, Kvitova marched past Sam Stosur in the third round en route to the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the first time. 
Six months later, the free-hitting left-hander won the first of her two Wimbledon crowns. 
 A former Australian Open junior champion, Pliskova took the fight to Kvitova, breaking the tournament’s second seed in the second game of the final to seize the early initiative. But Kvitova clubbed two forehand winners and then unleashed a scorching backhand pass to break back as Pliskova tried to serve out the opening set at 5-4. After snatching the first set in a tiebreaker, Kvitova claimed an early break in the second and looked headed for a routine win. Pliskova had other ideas, drawing back on level terms in the sixth game to force another tiebreaker, only for Kvitova’s class to shine through once again when it mattered most.