Petra Kvitova vs. Tsvetana Pironkova – Quarterfinal Preview: Wimbledon Championships 2011
Race to glory becomes more intense at the third Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Wimbledon Championships, as the world number eight, Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic, takes on the 32nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova of
Bulgaria in the quarter-final on Tuesday.
The battle for a place in the semi-final will take place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, England, with two of the finest players facing each other.
The eighth seed Kvitova has been in fabulous form throughout the tournament and has won each of his matchup in straight sets. The Czech has dropped just 15 games in four opening round encounters en route to the quarter-final and
is reckoned as one of the strongest players for winning the prestigious title at Wimbledon this time.
21-year-old Kvitova drowned the Belgian opponent, Yanina Wickmayer, in the fourth round of the tournament in straight sets 6-0, 6-2, to book a date with Pironkova for a place in the semis. She has faced no real trouble in disposing
off every competitor she faced and her abilities under pressure are yet to be tested in the mega event.
The other competitor, 23-year-old Pironkova, is the other force to be reckoned in the start-studded field at Wimbledon. The Bulgarian has also not dropped a single set to reach the final eight and is currently in her finest form.
Pironkova came under the spot light when she made a huge upset in the third round by defeating the world number three, Vera Zvonareva of Russia, in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.She then continued to surprise tennis fans in the fourth round clash, blowing away the
five-time Wimbledon champion, Venus Williams 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the quarter-finals stages of the tournament.
Pironkova’s victories over Venus and Zvonareva certainly boost up her confidence to the optimum level, making her a strong competitor for the Grand Slam title. She has faced Kvitova twice in 2008, suffering heavy defeats on both
occasions at the hands of the Czech. Beyond doubt Pironkova is in a much improved form now and will look on to give some real tough time to the eighth seed in Tuesday’s encounter.
The Czech competitor was also the semi-finalist last year at Wimbledon, when she was defeated by the defending champion, Serena Williams of the United States, in straight sets, 7–6(5), 6–2. Kvitova has played 30 matches in the
running WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) season and has been in victorious in 25 of them, depicting her blistering current form. She has already won three WTA singles titles so far this season and is very keen to take her first ever Grand Slam title this time
round at Wimbledon.
The Bulgarian was also the semi-finalist in the last edition of Wimbledon and was defeated 6–3 3–6 2–6 by Zvonareva. Although she has never defeated Kvitova in singles matchup, her most recent performance hint that this time she
might come up with something surprising to take down the world number eight on Tuesday. With the top ranked players (including Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva, Francesca Schiavone, Li Na and the William Sisters) being ejected already from the tournament,
it is a golden opportunity for Kvitova to bag her first Grand Slam title and climb up the women’s rankings. The Czech is certainly the hot favourite for the quarter-final clash against Pironkova on Tuesday.
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