Petra Kvitova completed her preparations for an assault on a third grand slam title in triumphant style yesterday by downing fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova 7-6 7-6 to win the Sydney International title.

It was a contest every bit as close as the scoreline would suggest with the two Czech six-footers pounding the ball off the flexicushion surface at each other for almost two hours.

Pliskova gave as good as she got but the world number four’s superior second serve and greater experience of playing key moments in big matches got her over the line.

“I’m just glad how I played today,” the twice Wimbledon champion said.

“I mean, it was a very tough match to really handle everything.

“Two tiebreakers, it’s always very difficult. Karolina played really well and she served very well and was really difficult.”

Earlier, Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin beat fifth seeded Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-4 6-4 to set up a men’s final against fellow qualifier Viktor Troicki, who thrashed Gilles Muller, of Luxembourg, 6-2 6-4 in the second semi-final.