Unheralded Kvitova upsets Sharapova in women’s final

Unknown no more, Petra Kvitova is a Wimbledon champion.   Kvitova won her first Grand Slam title Saturday by beating Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-4 in women’s final, finishing with an ace and dropping to her knees in disbelief.

Kvitova was playing in her first major final, but it was three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova that showed her nerves. The 2004 Wimbledon winner double-faulted six times, including twice to get broken to 4-2 in the first set.

“It was about the serve, for sure, and the return,” said Kvitova, who lost in the semifinals last year. “I know that she’s return very well, but I know that I can return her serve also. I knew that she make some double-fault.”

The 21-year-old Czech is the first left-handed woman to win the Wimbledon title since Martina Navratilova in 1990.

Using a fast-paced and well-placed forehand, Kvitova did little wrong on Centre Court as Czech greats Navratilova and Jana Novotna sat in the Royal Box with a host of other former Wimbledon champions.

“It’s hard to find some words if I’m standing here with the trophy and see the great players in the Royal Box,” Kvitova said on court after the match. “Well, I’m so happy that I won.”

Navratilova, who gave Kvitova two thumbs up shortly after match point, was just as elated.

A new star

“A new star,” said Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon champion. “It didn’t happen overnight, but she’s a champion. It’s great.”

Kvitova kept Sharapova on the run with 18 winners, and never seemed to lose confidence despite being broken three times.

“She was hitting really powerful and hitting winners from all over the court. She made a defensive shot into an offensive one,” Sharapova said. “And, yeah, just kind of laid on a lot of those shots. I think she was just more aggressive than I was, hit deeper and harder, and got the advantage in the points.”

Sharapova was the clear favorite entering the match. Besides winning the title at the All England Club in 2004, she also won the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008. Shoulder surgery in October 2008 slowed her career, but she returned to the semifinals at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2008 at the French Open last month.

“Besides the fact that I lost, I think this is a big step for me, being here in the final,” Sharapova said.