Google News Miami Open: Petra Kvitova defeated Sorana Cirstea, the Highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Petra Kvitova qualified for the WTA 1000 final in Miami for the first time in her career. In the semifinal, the 33-year-old Czech defeated the Romanian Sorana Cirstea, who will reapproach the WTA top 40 after an excellent month in the United States, by the score of 7-5 6-4 in 1h45 and after recovering from a deficit of 2 -5 0-30 and 3-5 15-40 in the first set.
From the moment she entered the match, the Czech never looked back, shooting dozens of winners even in front of a player who was expressing excellent tennis. In the final she will face the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, who is aiming for the Sunshine Double.
This is the third meeting between the two and the head-to-head is tied, 1-1. The Czech won the last duel, at the WTA 500 Adelaide 2, in January this year. It is the thirteenth final for the Czech Republic in tournaments of this category, the first since August last year in Cincinnati.
Now she goes in search of her 30th career title. For her, in total, this will be the 41st final of her career (29 wins, 11 losses). Her last trophy in events of this type, however, dates back to Madrid, almost five years ago.
Below the highlights
The men's semifinals
Daniil Medvedev, who despite a few too many worries in the heart of the match breaks down Karen Khachanov's resistance, qualifying for the final of the Miami Open 2023, after the one obtained and lost in Indian Wells against Carlos Alcaraz.
Now Medvedev will face the young Italian in the final of the tournament. The former world number one conquers his fourth consecutive final of 2023, beating his countryman 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-3, in two hours and 20 minutes of play.
Khachanov, despite playing an excellent challenge, was unable to keep up with his opponent, once the latter raised his level in the third set. In the third set, in fact, Medvedev found himself saving a very delicate break point in the opening game of the set, which if converted could really cost the number 4 seed, who at that moment was clearly in distrust, unlike his opponent.
At 2-1 for Medvedev, the former US Open champion broke his partner's serve, confirming the break then the next round and flying up to 4-1, and then up to the comfortable 6-3 final. Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz with an extraordinary performance in the semifinal of the Miami Open 2023.
Presumably only stained by the huge amount of missed opportunities during the first set. The Italian talent dominates the second and third sets, takes his revenge after the semifinal in Indian Wells and after the one dated 2021 and reaches the final in the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami also in the 2023 edition.
The 6-7(4) 6- is emblematic 4 6-2 final that matures after about three hours of a beautiful match. In short: the level is very high. Sinner does not take advantage of a 4-1 lead in the first set. On the contrary. He also misses a chance for the heavy 5-1 after a rather simple volley and finds himself trapped in a completely different match.
Obviously characterized by exhausting exchanges, with Alcaraz regaining strength and finding courage in the moment of greatest difficulty. The Italian tennis player still absorbs the rise of the Spaniard, clears four set points in Alcaraz at 5-6, but plays a rather poor tie break.
Again, however, he closes with quite a few recriminations as he squanders a 4-2 lead. Sinner is in no way affected by the psychological backlash. On the contrary. Alcaraz loses lucidity and above all enamel in prolonged exchanges and essentially finds himself the victim of an incredibly precise and attentive player.
Tactically perfect. Jannik immediately lands the decisive shoulder and despite a few problems here and there with the available joke, does not change the plans in any way and postpones any discussion to the third party. Also due to a beginning of cramps in his right leg, Alcaraz is forced to almost completely lose the support of his serve and to try to shorten the number of extended rallies.
The road opens up for Sinner, who after an opening break concedes a ball to make it 3-3 but repeats the break operation at 4-2 and with the match practically in his grasp he is no longer wrong.