Petra Kvitova had an easy night at the US Open Wednesday night at the Billy Jean King Tennis Center. The 27 year old took care of business allowing just three games to Alize Cornet before completing the win in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 on Court 13.
It was the first time in three years both players played one another with the Czech winning both against Cornet. Kvitova has been playing the same level of tennis since her hand injury sustained last year. She dominated against Jelena Jankovic in straight sets to begin the final major and would be the heavyweight in their third meeting. Cornet impressed on Monday with a good hold against the British youngster Heather Watson and if she could maintain the same skill to pull off an upset.
She held her opening game but as soon as the Czech got the ball in her hands, she gave it her best against Cornet. The 27 year old Czech took the service game in stride and summed up a 4-1 lead in the set after 17 minutes. The 13th seed tore through the sixth game pulling off a triple break that made it a double break for the returning superstar. Cornet tried staying alive in the set but it was Kvitova who coasted through another break to finish a set up after 25 minutes. The Czech killed it on both serves with 13 of 14 on the first and seven of ten from her second that took a toll on Cornet’s entire game.
In the second set, Kvitova ran away with the first three games that took her little effort to achieve putting her halfway to a clean sweep. Cornet fought with all her might to get a hold in the second coming with a lot of effort behind her to avoid the bagel. Despite the win, Cornet’s frustrations were higher than her confidence as Kvitova coasted to another victory on serve in the fifth. When the game was over, Cornet kicked her racket to the wall before eventually getting a new one.
A change didn’t help either as the inevitable dominance of the 13th seed closed in on the straight sets win. She broke Cornet once more achieving to serve for the match in the seventh. Despite three errors on the serve, Kvitova moved to match point where she double faulted to give Cornet a break at extending the set. On the second break point, Cornet won her second of the set hoping to hold off Kvitova again. Her chance came in the shape of unforced errors that put Kvitova up three match points to win it on a shot landing on the line far from Cornet’s reach.
It took the 13th seed just a shade under an hour to finish off her second round match and receive a well deserved rest. She’ll prep for her third round bout with the winner of Ekatrina Alexandrova and Caroline Garcia on Friday.
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