The inaugural Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open will see a rematch of the 2014 Wimbledon final between Petra Kvitova and Eugenie Bouchard and the winner will qualify for the WTA Championships in Singapore.
The first to advance was the third-seeded Kvitova, with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Elina Svitolina, who had beaten her in their only previous meeting earlier this year, Kvitova’s opener in Cincinnati. The Czech cruised through the first set and then won the second set on her third match point, after wasting two match points at 6-5 and letting Svitolina earn a break point.
Now only one win away from joining Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep in the WTA Championships, the world No.3 Kvitova said how tough the beginning of the season was for her and how it significantly slowed down her process of qualifying for the season-ending tournament, even though she boosted her rise with Wimbledon title.
Sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard is the obstacle between Kvitova and the Premier-level title that brings $441,000 in prize money. In the second semifinal on Friday, Bouchard quickly found herself double break up against eight seed Caroline Wozniacki, 4-1, and after taking the first set, the Canadian went up a break, 4-3, in the second set when her opponent double faulted. Soon afterwards Bouchard celebrated 6-2 6-3. (photos: Jimmie48)
