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It was three years ago that Petra Kvitova unleashed the champion within her to clinch her maiden Grand Slam title. After wandering in the backwoods for three long years, the Czech rediscovered herself with an astounding display of grasscourt tennis that left Eugenie Bouchard scarred and shattered.
Bouchard’s mountain of expections too difficult to surmount
The young woman came knocking at the door but Kvitova, who earned the keys to Centre Court with her triumph in 2011, struck with phenomenal venom and power to deny Bouchard 6-3, 6-0 in just 55 minutes.
It was 95 years ago, that a strong-willed Suzanne Lenglen won the first of many Wimbledon titles. And Bouchard was dealing with some of the expectations that might have surrounded Lenglen’s effort that afternoon many summers ago. Only, the Canadian’s journey was in the glare in the media lights that may have been few and far between in the time of the grand old lady of tennis.
Things start to flow for Kvitova and her brand of no-holds-barred offence
While Bouchard was clearly chasing history, Kvitova was only seeking to reaffirm her own conviction. And perhaps that was simpler to deal with – the Czech broke in the third game to sound the bugle to her fledgling opponent. The backhand winner that sealed the break was scalding in intensity and precise in placement.
At 1-3, the Canadian was caught in a whirlpool of questions that surround a final of such magnitude. She served a double fault to offer two more break points to Kvitova. This time though, Bouchard gave a fine account of herself, clawing back to deuce before ensuring that she did not slip any further. It was a game that opened a window to the steely determination of the 20-year-old woman.
The Canadian refuses to wilt, putting up one last stand in the first set
But Kvitova was firing winners almost at will, imposing herself in the forecourt to stamp her authority on the contest. Bouchard was broken again in the seventh game – a double fault and another probing forehand doing the damage. But Bouchard is no ordinary tennis player, and she stood like a rock to keep Kvitova from serving for the first set.
The Canadian strung a forehand straight at Kvitova’s shoelaces and added a down the line winner to earn her first break of the match in the eighth game. Kvitova wasn’t to be denied too long though. She forced three set points in the ninth game, with a backhand crosscourt return winner.
Bouchard saved the first two with typical resilience, but Kvitova put the set in her bag with a blistering forehand return winner. The incredible Czech struck no less than 17 winners in a dominant effort that saw her create as many as nine break points.
Set 2 turns into a nightmare for Bouchard as Kvitova breaks free
At the beginning of the second set, there was no let up from the Czech player. Striking deep with venomous power and precision, Kvitova dented Bouchard again as she raced to a 5-0 lead. The Canadian was still battling; both the third and fourth games went to deuce, but the Czech was packing too much ammunition for her opponent today.
Kvitova was on fire, striking off both flanks with a burning rage that we haven’t seen from her in recent times. It was all getting dangerously one-sided, but such was the brilliance of Kvitova’s ground strokes. Perhaps, deep inside her heart, Bouchard herself may have found it hard not to admire the brilliance of her opponent’s skill even as she was being brutalized by it.
At 30-30 in the sixth game, Bouchard sent a backhand crashing into the net to offer a championship point to Kvitova. A searing backhand crosscourt winner gave the Czech her second Wimbledon crown, with less than an hour on the clock.
From here on, the sky is the limit for both Kvitova and Bouchard
The Canadian will want to forget this experience in a hurry and come back stronger for the hardcourt season. She has reached the semis or better in each of the Slams this year, so there is no reason to beat herself down too much about losing to a player who played outstanding tennis.
The tennis world will hope that Kvitova can finally draw inspiration from her second Grand Slam title and fire herself to greater glory in the next few seasons.
