WASHINGTON, May 28, 2020 (by Michael Dickens)

Petra Kvitova reached the final of the Czech TA President’s Cup with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Katerina Siniakova Wednesday afternoon in Prague’s Sparta.

The World No. 12 Kvitova, who spent one hour and 26 minutes on court to beat her fellow Czech Fed Cup teammate, led 3-0 in both sets only to squander her margins. However, Kvitova broke the 54th-ranked Siniakova seven times in nine opportunities and outpointed her 71-64. She saved five of 10 break points she faced.

“I showed a better performance than the first day,” said Kvitova, quoted by Czech website isport.cz. “I got more into it and the match was good on both sides.” As to the match fluctuations, Kvitova suggested “Sometimes, it happens to me.”

Kvitova will meet Karolina Muchova in Thursday’s final of this three day exhibition tournament. The World No. 26 advanced with a 6-1, 4-6, 10-6 win over No. 31 Barbora Strycova. Muchova, who trailed in the super tie-break 4-3 before winning six consecutive points, saved 10 of 13 break points and converted four of eight chances against Strycova. She outpointed her opponent 76-61.

“The start was fast, I played solidly and didn’t give Barbora much of a chance,” Muchova said, quoted by isport.cz. “In the second set there were longer exchanges and I was glad that the third set was a super tie-break.” 

Meanwhile, the men’s semifinals were won by No. 405 Michael Vrbensky and No. 229 Zdenek Kolar. Vrbensky defeated No. 617 Jiri Lehecka, 6-2, 6-3, and Kolar advanced over No. 320 Vit Kopriva, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Kolar endured despite suffering a blister on the palm of his right hand. “The worst place. The end of the racket is still rubbing into the live flesh. It got worse in the match, it cracked, and the blood a little bit, but I have to deal with it somehow,” he told isport.cz. “I need a lot of luck, but it paid off for the hard work I did.”

Feeling grateful to be playing matches again this week. Of course the situation is different, but it still sounds nice to say I am playing a final tomorrow 😀✌️ pic.twitter.com/txRqySEbwE

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) May 27, 2020