Petra Kvitova ruthlessly ended the grand slam hopes of her friend Lucie Safarova in yesterday’s all-Czech semi-final and set her sights on claiming a second Wimbledon title against a young upstart chasing her first.
The 2011 champion overcame the plucky resistance of Safarova 7-6 (6) 6-1 to set up a showdown with 20-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who reached her maiden grand slam final by seeing off third seed Simona Halep 7-6 6-2.
Kvitova, whose Wimbledon triumph as a 21-year-old prompted nine-times singles champion Martina Navratilova to predict that the young Czech would go on to dominate the women’s game, feels ready to start fulfilling expectations.
“I think these three years were really up and down. I knew that a lot of people were probably expecting something more from me,” the 24-year-old told reporters.
“But on the other side, I was still in the top 10 and I did everything I could. I was practising very hard and everything ... I’m back in the final and I’m feeling well.”
Bouchard, meanwhile, is a leading light among the new generation of players that have wowed the All England Club this year and reached the semi-finals of both the Australian and French Opens.
Sixth seed Kvitova remains favourite for tomorrow’s final, but is taking nothing for granted in a tournament that has thrown up more than its fair share of surprises.
“I find her a very solid and talented player,” Kvitova said of Bouchard.
“She really seems confident in her game right now. She’s moving very well. She’s playing aggressively from near the baseline.”
The 20-year-old Bouchard harried and chased third seed Halep from the baseline, producing a series of forehand winners.
The match was interrupted three times.
After four games Halep, 22, needed treatment on a sore ankle. Then in the tiebreak a spectator was taken ill in the sunshine and had to be led from the stand.
On Bouchard’s first match point Halep served an ace, but 13th seed Bouchard complained she had been distracted by a noise in the crowd. She argued with the umpire Kader Nouni but the point stood.
With Bouchard rattled, Halep saved four more match points but her intensity was shot and she sent a ball long to offer the Canadian her sixth chance.
Bouchard thumped down a big serve that the French Open finalist could only push into the net.
“It was a little crazy. I have never ended a match like that,” Bou-chard said.
“I’m happy I kept my focus and didn’t get distracted and played well in the last game.”
On the prospect of facing former winner Kvitova, a beaming Bouchard said: “I’m really excited ... it’s my first grand slam final so I’m just going to go for it. I will probably have my toughest match yet so I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“My coach will watch her play and give me some tips on how she plays, but I’m just going to go out there and play my game.
“I think I can play even better than I did today.”