Kvitova's search for a coach continues, makes Wuhan second round

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  • No drama: Kvitova through to Wuhan second round (Credit: Visual China Group)

    On a day littered with retirements and smothered by humid, blistering conditions, the coach-less Petra Kvitova enjoyed a relatively drama-free victory to even the score against Jelena Ostapenko in Wuhan on Monday.

    It was the fourth meeting between them – all this season – and Kvitova entered the clash trailing the Latvian teenager 1-2 head-to-head.

    Ostapenko had beaten Kvitova in Doha and Birmingham earlier in the season before the Czech struck back to win their meeting in the US Open first round.

    Yesterday in Wuhan, Kvitova needed just 68 minutes to complete a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the fiery Ostapenko, who won the Wimbledon junior title in 2014.

    Kvitova, seeded No14 this week, twice gave up a break advantage before finally consolidating for a one-set lead.

    She breezed through the second set to book a second round meeting with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who beat Serena Williams at the Olympics last month.

    Kvitova is down to No16 in the world after a tough season that saw her split with two coaches – first her coach of seven years David Kotyza at the start of the year, and more recently Frantisek Cermak post-US Open.

    The 26-year-old worked with Wim Fissette (former coach of Simona Halep and the now-pregnant Victoria Azarenka) last week in Tokyo on a trial basis but the Belgian is not with her here in Wuhan and it doesn’t seem Kvitova will team up with him.

    “We’ll see,” is all she would say about the matter yesterday, before adding that finding a coach will be a top priority this off season.

    Back smiling: Petra Kvitova (Credit: Visual China Group)

    Back smiling: Petra Kvitova (Credit: Visual China Group)

    Kvitova’s results have taken a positive turn after Wimbledon and her last two months were highlighted by her winning a bronze medal in singles at the Rio Olympics. She also made the semis in New Haven and the last-16 at the US Open.

    “I was really waiting all season to get a few wins, and I did starting in Montreal kind of,” said Kvitova, who added that she is not tempted to reunite with Kotyza.

    “For sure finding a coach is my big priority right now.

    “Yeah, I mean, seven years with David was amazing time, for sure. But we went to the time when we split. I think both of us are looking for some player or coach who really suits us.

    “I really have to have a big think about the new coach, how everything will work, and about the future. So, yeah, I would like really to have some good coach to going to the new season. This year was really difficult. But the experiences are here for us. So I’m thinking positive still.”

    And what is she looking for in her next coach?

    “I think I’m kind of different. It’s a little bit difficult,” she answered. “I think that for me sometimes it’s more important the personality of the coach than about the kind of can I say like quality of tennis.

    “I know he has to be a good coach, for sure. But he has to fit in as a personality to me and my team as well. It’s a bit difficult, but hopefully I will find it.”

    Other on-court action at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center on Monday saw four players retire to take the tournament’s total tally to six in just two days of main draw play.

    Heather Watson pulled out of her first round contest with Madison Brengle while down 3-6, 1-2 with a gastrointestinal illness. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova cited a viral illness for her retirement against Misaki Doi, who was up 3-1 in the final set against the Russian.

    Anastasija Sevastova pulled the plug on her first round clash with Yulia Putintseva, who was just two games away from a straight-sets victory, blaming a right shoulder problem. And finally Irina-Camelia Begu said a rib injury forced her to stop her second round match with her fellow Romanian Simona Halep.

    Simona Halep at the Wuhan Open Players' Party (Credit: Visual China Group.

    Simona Halep at the Wuhan Open Players’ Party (Credit: Visual China Group)

    The fifth-ranked Halep, who has a day off on Tuesday in singles but is scheduled to play doubles with Ostapenko, doesn’t know what can be done to avoid those late-season withdrawals from events.

    “I think it’s mentally as well a little bit. You feel it’s coming, the end of the year. You feel, like, tired. You exaggerate a little bit more thinking that you are tired. Happened to me last week with my leg,” said Halep, who was happy to report that she played her first round pain-free on Monday, feeling no after-effects of the hamstring issue that kept her out of Tokyo last week.

    “I don’t know how we can do to stay healthy till the end. If I would have known that, I would do something better. But, yeah, we have just to take care of ourselves as much as we can because we have many years ahead – I have actually. I’m getting older tomorrow,” she added with a laugh, reminding us that she turns 25 today.

    Halep hailed her own attitude on court as well as her serving, “180 ace” she bragged referring to how fast her serve was against Begu.

    Looking ahead to her main targets for the last few weeks of the season, she said: “To play Singapore, for sure, is the goal. Then to keep playing like I did today, like I did in US, to enjoy. I feel no pressure now. I just want to give everything I have.

    “I was pretty good with my attitude today, so maybe I can improve this till the end of the year. I feel good. I just want to play.”

    Halep next faces the winner of Tuesday’s clash between Yaroslava Shvedova and Roberta Vinci.

    Later on centre court, Caroline Wozniacki cruised past Sam Stosur 6-3, 6-2 less than 24 hours after arriving from Tokyo where she captured the title on Sunday.

    “I felt surprisingly good on court today. I was expecting to be tired, maybe not have the right timing, since it’s completely different conditions. But I played well and I was happy with getting a late match today. I got to sleep in, relax all day. Yeah, it was good,” said the ex-world No1 who was ranked as low as 74 entering the US Open a month ago and is now up to 22 thanks to her semi-final showing in New York and title success in Tokyo.

    US Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova closed play of the day with a 6-3, 7-5 win over fellow Czech Lucie Safarova.

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