Tennis: Zvonareva, Radwanska vie for Pan Pacific title

World number four powers past Wimbledon queen Kvitova in semis.

TOKYO:

Russia’s Vera Zvonareva overcame a nightmare start in her Pan Pacific Open semi-final, recovering strongly to power past Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets.

Zvonareva, struggling with her serve, trailed 0-4 to her Czech opponent in the first set before battling back to win a tie-break then romping through the second set without losing a game to seal a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 victory.

In today’s final, Zvonareva will take on Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

The 27-year-old Zvonareva, who hit a total of seven double faults in the first set, used an array of deep returns to attack Kvitova’s backhand side as she fought back.

“I don’t even remember that I was 5-1 down in the first set,” said Zvonareva. “I was just trying to find my rhythm.

“But slowly I got into the match and started making the shots I usually make and was able to turn it around. We had tough games but I was able to convert all my chances and that’s why the scoreline looked like that,” she added.

Kvitova loses concentration

The 21-year-old Kvitova, ranked sixth, squandered three set points in the first set, allowing the Russian back into the match.

After finding her rhythm, Zvonareva raced into a 4-1 lead in the tie-break, taking the set when Kvitova hit an easy forehand volley into the net. The Russian had to fend off five break points at the beginning of the second set but she was never really in danger.

“I was the first who was hitting the ball harder and I was the first going for a winner, I don’t know what happened,” said Kvitova. “She came back and played better than me and she was the first who was going for a winner. The first set should have been mine, for sure.”

Radwanska closed out her match against third-ranked Azarenka on her fourth match point.

“I’m playing better and better every day. I just hope that I can do the same [in the final],” said Radwanska.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2011.