Jelena Ostapenko and Petra Kvitova warm up for Wimbledon with grass court wins
Victories in Birmingham and Berlin for the pair ahead of SW19
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Your support makes all the difference.Jelena Ostapenko won her second title on grass with victory over Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.
In a battle of the top two seeds, it was the second seed who came out on top, with Ostapenko triumphing 7-6 (8) 6-4. It was the Latvian’s first title since Dubai last February and her first on grass since Eastbourne in 2021.
Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2 7-6(6) on Sunday to lift the German Open title and confirm her form on grass just over a week before the Grand Slam in London.
In Birmingham, Ostapenko clinched a very tight first set on her fourth set point in the tie-break after saving one chance for Krejcikova and moved to the brink of victory at 5-1 in the second set.
Czech Krejcikova, who will return to the top 10 on Monday, threatened a comeback, winning three games in a row, but Ostapenko made it across the line.
“She’s a really great player and congrats to her and her team,” said the 26-year-old, who has survived several close battles this week.
“I was really close from 5-1 to 5-4 but then I managed somehow and I’m really, really happy about it. I was fighting every match. I played five great matches, this was the only match in two sets. It’s a great preparation for Wimbledon and there’s still a couple of things I can do better.”
Krejcikova, who was playing her first final on grass, did not drop a set until the final and felt losing the first-set tie-break was crucial to the outcome.
“She’s playing well,” said the top seed. “I’m disappointed but that’s tennis. (The tie-break) was maybe the key to the match because when you play the first set that long and you are up, down, up, down all the time – I was very unfortunate.
“I definitely had a great week. It was really nice to be here, I really enjoyed it. It’s special to play on a centre court and to enjoy the support. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back.”
Over in Germany, 33-year-old Czech Vkitova - who also beat Vekic en route to victory at the Miami Open this year - earned her 31st career title.
The left-hander looked completely at ease on the surface as she captured her sixth title on grass, more than any other active WTA player, in a warning to her rivals ahead of Wimbledon.
It is the first time Kvitova has won multiple titles in a single season since 2019 and she has now won 12 of her last 13 matches on grass dating back to her title run in Eastbourne last season.
“I love grass, I love you,” Kvitova told a thinning crowd at the Steffi Graf stadium.
“I have to say big congrats to Donna. You played amazing tennis. Not only in the final but the whole week. It was exhausting yesterday and today,” she said.
Kvitova and Vekic had played twice on Saturday after a rain delay on Friday but it was the Czech who did not drop a set in the entire tournament.
She was too strong for the Croat in the first set, while the 26-year-old struggled with her forehand.
Kvitova found herself a break down early in the second set but battled back from 5-3 and moved 6-5 up with an ace.
Vekic, who has shot up the rankings from 69th to 23rd this season following an Australian Open quarter-final spot and a title in Monterrey, forced a tiebreak.
She was beaten, however, with a thundering Kvitova forehand on the first match point.
PA and Reuters