Kvitova, Wozniacki make q’finals
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — Second-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic moved into the quarterfinals of the New Haven Open with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over America’s Nicole Gibbs.
The 2011 Wimbledon champion, the only Grand Slam winner in the New Haven field, is coming off a title in Montreal, her first ever in North America, and a run to the semifinals in Cincinnati.
Caroline Wozniacki remains undefeated in New Haven after beating Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the second round.
Third-seeded Wozniacki is playing in the tournament for the fifth time and is the four-time defending champion. Wednesday’s victory was her 19th here without a loss.
“I think I just have the same mentality every time I go into a match,” Wozniacki said. “Out of respect for myself, the tournament and the opponent, I treat it as a match that I want to win.”
Her chances for a fifth straight title improved Tuesday when top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska retired in the second set of a lackluster performance against qualifier Olga Govortsova with a sore shoulder. Radwanska said she did not want to risk aggravating the injury going into the U.S. Open.
The 19-year-old Gibbs was able to come back from 4-1 down to tie Kvitova before world’s fifth-ranked player put her away.
Kvitova will play one of her best friends, Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. Safarova beat Jie Zheng of China 6-4, 6-0.
Wozniacki had a tougher time in her match. She never trailed against Arvidsson, but dropped three straight games after being up 4-1 in the first set, and had to battle the rest of the way.
“I went a little bit down with my level, she went a little bit up and all of the sudden it was just a struggle to win that first set,” Wozniacki said. “I’m just happy to be through. You don’t always have to be playing your best tennis, but just win the most important points.”
She will play Dominika Cibulkova in the quarterfinals. The 5-foot-3 Slovakian used a powerful forehand to beat Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-4, 6-1.
“I’m compensating because I’m not so tall,” she said. “I have developed the power, good swing in my arms. I use the power in my shots.”
Petkovic, who is coming off injuries to her back and right ankle, was playing in her first tournament since April and just her fourth of the year. /ap
