In the second round, Kvitova salvaged match point to advance and wiped out a 3-5 third set deficit in the quarterfinals.  From the initial game, the confident Czech demonstrated she meant business.  With a backhand up the line winner, Kvitova had break point.  She converted thanks to a net court winner.  However, Clijsters quickly rebounded by stealing the next game.  Still, Kvitova was relentless forcing Clijsters to survive another break point before guarding serve for 2-1.  Following an easy service game, Kvitova earned double break point when Clijsters’ forehand traveled long.  On her second opportunity, Kvitova connected with a forehand return winner to bag the break for 3-2.  Then, with three forehand winners, Kvitova consolidated with a love game.  With her serve grooving, Kvitova rolled the rest of the set and with another love game served it out.

To open the second set, Kvitova crushed a forehand return crosscourt winner to obtain break point and later captured the game.  Yet, despite having two game points, as in the previous set, Kvitova failed to maintain serve.  This could have marked the time when the 20 year Czech’s crumbling started as Clijsters began to serve more effectively.  Instead, Kvitova confirmed her resoluteness to completing the task at hand.  After saving a 30 all game which included a double fault, Kvitova continued to use her bludgeoning strokes to put Clijsters on the defensive.  Subsequent to double faulting which gave Kvitova break point, Clijsters provoked a backhand crosscourt error to get to deuce.  But, by pressuring Clijsters into a forehand mistake, Kvitova secured her third break point of the game and gained the advantage when Clijsters pushed a forehand swing volley into the net.  With an ace, Kvitova sealed her service game for 5-3.  Serving to extend the match, Clijsters sent a backhand long to hand Kvitova championship point.  However, with an ace, Clijsters got back to deuce.  Next though, Kvitova pulverized a backhand causing Clijsters to lob her forehand long.  Thus, Kvitova had her second match point.  This time with a forehand crosscourt winner, Kvitova claimed the title, the third of her career.

In 2009, Kvitova made the headlines at the U.S. Open by defeating then world number one, Dinara Safina.  Therefore, this is not uncharted territory for Kvitova.  Still, the Czech admitted she was surprised by the victory.  Kvitova stated “it’s nice to win against Clijsters. . .  One of my biggest achievements”.  On the other hand, Clijsters shared that she was not caught off guard.  Despite the former scores, Clijsters said it was clear that Kvitova had the weapons.  According to Clijsters, “she played consistent in her level today and deserves to win.  She was definitely better”.
Clijsters is not the only one who will be moving up the rankings on Monday.  Kvitova will jump from number 18 to at least 14, a career best.

With last year’s champion, a retired Amelie Mauresmo looking on, top seed and 2009 finalist Elena Dementieva survived Lucie Safarova 6-7,6-1,6-4 in the finals of the Open GDF Suez to seize her second premier trophy of 2010 and her 16th career title.

Safarova followed a love opening service game with a break.  Then, the Czech consolidated for a 3-0 lead.  With good serves including an ace, Dementieva rescued a 0-30 game to capture her first game.  When Safarova erred with a backhand down the line, Dementieva had her initial break point.  The Russian capitalized when Safarova misfired on the forehand.  After a comfortable service game, Dementieva tied the set at 3 a piece.  Hence forth, with neither player able to manufacture a break point, the set went to a tiebreaker.  Ahead 5-4, Safarova produced a beautiful backhand crosscourt winner for the minibreak.  With awesome defense, Dementieva saved one set point.  However, on Safarova’s second attempt she succeeded with the forehand up the line winner.

In the second set, Dementieva quickly shifted the momentum.  By forcing Safarova into a backhand down the line mistake, Dementieva had double break point.  Elena converted when Lucie netted a forehand.  Subsequently, Dementieva held at love to increase her advantage to 3-0.  With Dementieva finding the range on first serves and winning the majority of second serve points, Safarova saw the second set flash by.  Through donating more errors, Safarova gave Dementieva a double break lead.  The Russian closed the set with a routine service game.

In the decisive set, Safarova found her form once again and carried the first game. Yet, to Safarova’s chagrin, Dementieva continued her high level of play.  Moreover, Elena’s vulnerability, her serve, was not cracking.  After knotting the set at 2 all with a forehand up the line winner, Dementieva pressured Safarova into three consecutive backhand mistakes to erase two game points and get to deuce.  Although Safarova salvaged that game for a 3-2 edge, it was a sign that her ship was about to leak.  Safarova’s next service game, with some great returns, Dementieva secured double break point.  When Lucie misfired on a forehand up the line, Elena banked the break for 4-3.  Then, without any trouble, Dementieva consolidated for 5-3.  After a difficult hold which included rubbing out two championship points, Safarova extended the match at 4-5. Serving for the trophy and with her ninth ace for 30-0, Dementieva faltered.  Due to three straight forehand errors, Dementieva faced a break point.  Luckily, Elena’s serve responded by forcing Lucie into an error for deuce.  Later, with a forehand volley winner, Dementieva arrived at her fourth championship point.  Elena bagged the trophy when Lucie’s backhand crosscourt failed to clear the net.

After a disappointing Australian Open, Dementieva cited that it was “a thrill to win”.  Elena’s road to the final was fraught with potential disaster.  After an uncomplicated second round win, Dementieva required three sets against Andrea Petkovic and Melanie Oudin in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.  Asked her secret to staging a  comeback after dropping the first set for the third match in a row, Dementieva said ” I’m trying to be positive and trying to fight”.  After Dementieva’s runner-up status the year prior, the Russian was excited to triumph for the first time at this venue since she “loves to play in Paris”.

Safarova has a great deal to be content about this week despite her defeat in the final.  Lucie took down fourth seed Francesca Schiavone in the second round, sixth seed Shahar Peer in the quarters and second seed Flavia Pennetta in the semifinals.  Safarova who celebrated her 23rd birthday ten days ago will receive a belated present with a bump in her ranking from 46.

Off the bat, Mauresmo went down a break after netting a volley.  Luckily, with a double fault, Mauresmo got a break point and delivered when Dementieva’s backhand crosscourt went long. After the players traded breaks again; at two all, Dementieva secured another break with a forehand crosscourt winner and then consolidated with a love game for 4-2.  The next game was pivotal as Mauresmo saved a break point and held for 3-4.  As Dementieva served for the set at 5-4, Mauresmo’s versatility, particularly on the backhand, forced errors from her opponent, allowing her to break.  The set went to a tiebreak.  With a forehand winner, Dementieva had set point; but it vanished when she was unable to pass Mauresmo at net.  Subsequently, Amelie, herself, arrived at set point when Dementieva’s crosscourt forehand found the bottom of the net.  Then, Amelie handcuffed Elena with a great body serve to wrap up the set after 1 hour and 14 minutes.

With a double fault and a few errors from Dementieva, Mauresmo had the early break in the second set.  However, after being ahead 30-0, Amelie made some rare backhand errors to relinquish her lead.  After appearing to be on her way to an easy hold at 40-15, Mauresmo misfired on the backhand again and mistimed a ball which ended up going over her racket giving Dementieva the winner and a service break.  At 2-5, Mauresmo double faulted to hand Dementieva set point and double faulted anew to gift her the set.

As a player, Dementieva’s greatest virtue is her knack at blocking out the negative: case and point her serve. Thus, the third set would be a battle between Mauresmo’s mental fragility and Dementieva’s psychological firmness.  Amelie got off to a great start by breaking Dementieva, then with a couple of forehand winners consolidated for 2-0.  With a potent backhand crosscourt, Mauresmo caused Dementieva to hit up and secured a double break advantage for 4-1.  With great defense, Dementieva had three chances to get one break back, but with great serves, volleying and backhand winners, Mauresmo held off Dementieva extending her lead to 5-1.  After Elena held, Amelie had her first match point but missed a backhand down the line which resulted in deuce.  Thereafter, Mauresmo committed a double fault giving Dementieva break point which the Russian converted when Mauresmo’s backhand sailed long.  After that debacle, the insurance break came in handy.  Mauresmo found her first serve and with a love game closed out the tournament.

Undoubtedly, Amelie is an enigma.  Just last week in front of her hometown crowd in Federation Cup, Mauresmo melted under the stress.  Moreover, at the French Open, often for Mauresmo, the domestic support has been a hindrance rather than a help.  But, at this cozy indoor hardcourt tournament, Mauresmo fed off the energy from her supporters and often spurred them on.  With Justine Henin out of circulation, Mauresmo is perhaps the sole female left with a one-handed backhand.  If not, certainly the only one deserving of conversation considering the variety, beauty and accuracy with which Mauresmo executes that stroke.  Mauresmo’s last title and win over a top ten player was in February 2007 in the finals in Antwerp against Kim Clijsters.  So far this year, Mauresmo triumphed over Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals in Brisbane and at this tournament, she vanquished Agnieszka Radwanska world number 9 in the quarterfinals, Jelena Jankovic world number 3 in the semifinals and Dementieva world number 4.  In 2008, Mauresmo finished outside the top 20 for the first time since 1998.  For lack of a better expression, Mauresmo’s game brings out the beauty of tennis. Let’s hope this victory is not the storm before the calm.