Sharapova cruised through to the final without dropping a set, and after tucking the first set away with no drama, it looked as though that trend was going to continue.
But the No.3-seeded Kvitova started finding the mark on her huge serve and groundstrokes from the start of the second set, striking 15 winners to just nine unforced errors to take it in 43 minutes and push the title match to a decider.
The No.4-seeded Sharapova would strike back in the third though, racing out to a 3-0 lead and, after missing her first match point opportunity at 5-2 with an inside out forehand into the net, serving the match out at love at 5-3, finishing it on a big serve that drew a Kvitova backhand into the net. "It was a bit of an up-and-down match I'd say - maybe not the best out of the tournament," Sharapova said in her press conference. "But it's never easy playing against Petra. You don't always quite get a good rhythm. She goes for a lot of shots, very deep, and she's a very good, confident player.
"I knew she'd been on a roll in the last couple of weeks. It's probably the toughest opponent you can face in a final, that's had that success, yet you just want to focus on your side, what you do best. "She became the more aggressive player in the second set. I think I took a few too many steps back and let her play that way. But I was able to lift my game again in the third and come out with a win."
