Southpaw Kvitova left little doubt

Bud Collins

July 03, 2011|By Bud Collins

Petra Kvitova begins the celebration after becoming just the third lefthanded… (Anja Niedringhaus/Associated…)

LONDON - Maria Sharapova, the Siberian Siren, has been giving the cold shoulder to those who would beat her during this 125th Wimbledon. For two weeks she was pitching shutouts, along with her warbling, shrieking, ungenerously refusing to give up even one set. Twelve sets played, 12 sets won.

Sharapova had a 7-year itch, and was itching to cash in on it. Seven years ago, as a 17-year-old, she astounded the tennis world by winning Wimbledon over none other than Serena Williams. Despite numerous injuries and shoulder surgery, she also won the Australian and US Opens.

Having done well in the spring events, winning the Italian Open in Rome, she came to London as the bookmakers’ baby, ranked No. 6, and was set to scratch the itch. It was a pleasant afternoon at Centre Court, a little cool with lots of clouds, and 14,979 observers, mostly admiring the chic Sharapova.

However, something besides the itch got scratched because Petra Kvitova had dropped into Sharapova’s life. In 86 minutes, the sturdy, 6-foot Kvitova had made herself famous, as well as her hometown, Fulnek, Czech Republic.

Sharapova played another two-set match all right. The only difference was that Kvitova won both, 6-3, 6-4. Sharapova had trouble holding serve, broken in five of her nine service games.

“At the end I knew I was going to win it,’’ said the heroine of Fulnek. A country town of 6,000 Kvitova fans and a 15th-century castle on a hill, it is about 175 miles from Vienna. “But I had to get that match point. I wasn’t nervous, made myself focus, and went for my spot.’’

They were eyeball to eyeball, 78 feet apart, and Sharapova knew it was over when Kvitova unleashed the last shot of the day. “I wasn’t trying for an ace, just wanted the point,’’ Kvitova said of her lone ace, the ball zipping down the middle at 105 miles per hour.

Sharapova was banging from both sides, but Kvitova usually won the fierce exchanges, and was extraordinary on defense. “Petra has incredible power,’’ Sharapova said of her 21-year-old conqueror. “She was more aggressive than I was, took more chances. But this was a big step for me, to get to this final after all my shoulder trouble. I will carry the confidence through for the rest of the season.’’

Kvitova showed more variety. She used forehand and backhand, flat and slice, and volleyed appropriately. Her southpaw spin was very bothersome. She got into trouble a couple of times - broken the first game of the match - but came back slugging and never trailed again.

Amazingly composed for someone in a first major final, and Wimbledon at that, she did not falter in the tough parts.