Maria Sharapova v Petra Kvitova - Wimbledon 2011 women's final as it happened | Scott Murray | Sport | The Guardian Maria Sharapova v Petra Kvitova - Wimbledon 2011 women's final as it happened The moment of victory Saturday 2 July 2011 06.19 EDT First published on Saturday 2 July 2011 06.19 EDT Share on Messenger Close You can't knock the quality of the Ladies Singles this year. The intensity of the fascinating Marion Bartoli. Amazing comebacks for Venus and Serena Williams. Shocking defeats - possibly of the harbinger variety - for Venus and Serena Williams. Promising performances by Plucky Brits® Heather Watson and Laura Robson. The wildcard heroics of Sabine Lisicki. Barry Davies back in the commentary box. The simply astonishing Kimiko Date-Krumm. It's been a blast. Those who continually knock the women's game want to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. And with the dust coming down, the two deserving finalists are Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova.

The 24-year-old Russian is hot favourite to win her first slam since the Australian Open in 2008 - it would be her second Wimbledon title, after the victory in 2004 which saw her introduce the concept of text messaging to Sue Barker - but the 21-year-old big-hitting left-handed Czech is hotly tipped as a future slam winner. Here's hoping for a classic tussle to put the cherry on a fine 2011 tournament. They'll be out soon to knock up. Play begins at 2pm. The weather: Overcast / sunny. The crowd: Increasingly unfunny. Hugely Talented Sports Star In Feet On Ground shock: Kvitova's just been interviewed on the BBC. A more charming chat you'll do well to lug in on. Do you like designer gear, she's asked? "Nah. I like normal clothes, jeans and t-shirt. Sometimes a dress. I don't want to change, I just want to be like everyone else, I'm nothing special." Here they come. A long march through the clubhouse. Both women are given huge sprays of flowers before they take to the court. Kvitova smiles shyly.

Sharapova looks stern and serious. Both look nervous as they wait to be announced to Centre Court. And they have a fair old wait before they're allowed to enter the arena. Which they eventually do, to trademark polite Wimbledon applause. If I'm ranking the flowers, Sharapova's arrangement looks a bit more varied in colour to me. Kvitova's bunch is a tad purple heavy. Too many Purple Flowers (purplus indigo flowerum). Sharapova wins the toss, but strangely allows Kvitova to serve first. Tik tok tik tok tik tok tik tok tik tok tik tok tikky tik tok. They're knocking up. The atmosphere on Centre Court? There's a buzz, albeit a genteel one. Need you have asked? It's nearly 2.10pm; umpire Alison Lang has called time, and we're about to get under way. First set: Kvitova* 0-1 Sharapova (*denotes server). "First set, Miss Petra Kvitova to serve. Ready, play." A shaky start for Kvitova, who hits a forehand into the net, then another way too long.

But she wins her first-ever point in a grand-slam final after Sharapova hits long, then sends her opponent skittering this way and that after kicking a beautiful serve wide right. Sharapova comes straight back at her, though, with a couple of big points, Kvitova struggling to return. Sharapova breaks. Not such a strange move to opt to receive, then. A very wise decision. It's only the fifth time Kvitova's serve has been broken all fortnight. First set: Kvitova 1-1 Sharapova*. What a response by Kvitova, who wins the break straight back. The first point looks like it's been won by a lovely cross-court shot, left to right, by Sharapova, but Kvitova races across and whips a delicious winner down the right-hand sideline. Amazing shot, and one that rocks Sharapova on her heels. She's soon 0-40 down, and though she saves the first break point, the inevitable occurs on the next one. This already promises to be a toe-to-toe battle, both women having already landed one huge blow. More, please!

First set: Kvitova* 2-1 Sharapova. And now a serve held, though it took some work. Kvitova slices a couple of huge serves out wide, Sharapova overcooking the returns, sending them well outside the sidelines. She's 40-15 up, but Sharapova fights back, and skelps a massive forehand down the left-hand sideline to bring the game to deuce. The Russian's soon earned a break point, but Kvitova - on her second serve - wallops a huge forehand to the right-hand corner of Sharapova's court to save the game. Kvitova's soon chalking it up after forcing Sharapova out wide left with a big serve, then dispatching the return down the right-hand sideline. This is becoming a mighty battle already. First set: Kvitova 2-2 Sharapova*. The wheels have been known to clank off Sharapova's serve now and then, and she delivers her first double fault at 15-15. Her next first serve flies into the net too, and you can hear the sharp intakes of breath being taken by her coaches.

Fortunately for the Russian she booms an unreturnable serve down to bring the game back to 30-30, and soon enough the game is secured, though Kvitova had half a chance to make a cross-court winner and earn a break point, only to wildly overcook her double-handed skelp. The least dramatic game so far, if you were to insist on ranking them thus. "The wife and I are watching with sound muted," writes Michael Gaff, "and we can still hear Maria." First set: Kvitova* 3-2 Sharapova. A solid, fuss-free service game from Kvitova. After looking understandably jittery in the first game or two, she appears to have totally settled now. First set: Kvitova 4-2 Sharapova*. Sharapova is taking bloody ages between serves, much to the annoyance of Kvitova, who very much likes to get on with it, and has taken to hopping and bobbing around in the agitated fashion. Some venom in one return sends Sharapova skidaddling miles wide left of court; she's nowhere as Kvitova approaches the net to finish the point off with a mammoth smash down the middle.

Having brought the game to 30-30 by doing so, Sharapova serves out the game, though not in the way she'd like: two comically poor double faults hand the game to the Czech. This is very worrying for Sharapova. First set: Kvitova* 5-2 Sharapova. Boom boom boom boom. Private Baldrick would love Kvitova's serve. "I'm in Tooting," writes Citizen Gary Naylor ," and I'm pretty sure I just heard Maria. Either that, or a fox just got run over on Merton Road." First set: Kvitova 5-3 Sharapova*. Tape measure owner Michael McIntyre and rotund humourist James Corden were at the Murray-Nadal game yesterday. Just as we thought the reading on the celebrity-o-meter couldn't get any lower, duplicitous manifesto-mangler Nick Clegg pops up, and the needle shears right off. God save us from more eejitry. Sharapova starts the service game with her third double fault in a row, but gets it together staunchly, scrapping through a few points to 40-30.

But she's pegged back to deuce, Kvitova launching a searing winner down the right-hand sideline. Sharapova saves a set point, before serving the game out. But the favourite isn't looking comfortable at all. Unless she breaks her opponent in the next game, she'll be dropping her first set of the tournament. KVITOVA WINS THE FIRST SET: Kvitova* 6-3 Sharapova. Sharpova has no answer to Kvitova's serve, which is finding the far corners of both deuce and advantage court with unerring accuracy, then kicking out wide. Most of the returns fly straight into the net. Kvitova serves the game out to love, taking the first set. That was a brilliant set of tennis by the young Czech star. She's in the process of blowing Sharapova away. Second set: Kvitova 6-3, 1-0 Sharapova*. Of course, whether Kvitova can keep it up, with her first grand-slam title beckoning, is another thing altogether. The initial signs are good.

She goes 30-0 down, but brings it back to 30-30 with the shot of the match so far, a burning cross-court forehand whistling past Sharapova's nose. Sharapova responds with her fifth double fault of the match, and Kvitova converts her break point with an outstanding ball whipped down the right-hand sideline. It lands on the baseline, is called out, but correctly challenged. This is outstanding tennis by the young Czech player. At the moment, Sharapova has no answer. Second set: Kvitova* 6-3, 2-0 Sharapova. Kvitova is a set and a break up. Will the nerves kick in? She opens the game with her first double fault of the match. But Sharapova isn't doing much to apply any pressure herself, hitting the next point long. It allows Kvitova to regroup. She picks up a ball that's sent right by her toes with a wedge over the net that Phil Mickelson would be proud of, then whips yet another forehand winner up the sideline.

At 40-30, Kvitova double-faults, but even then she doesn't falter, a couple of big serves easing her through the rest of the game. Second set: Kvitova 6-3, 2-1 Sharapova*. What's this? Sharapova wins only her second game in eight, and to love t'boot. Second set: Kvitova* 6-3, 2-2 Sharapova. Kvitova's serve is rocking a tad - she double faults yet again, her third of the match, all in this set - and finally Sharapova asks a question, hitting a pearler of a return down the left-hand sideline. On break point, she seals the game by returning a weak Kvitova smash, lobbing her opponent straight down the middle. That's more like it from the hot favourite. Second set: Kvitova 6-3, 3-2 Sharapova*. What mettle Kvitova possesses! The game goes to four deuces. It's eventually won by a blistering two-handed cross-court backhand, right to left, the ball landing flush in the extreme left-hand corner of Sharapova's court.

The Russian didn't have a hope. To bounce back like that, having just been broken, with a first grand-slam increasingly within touching distance, is simply outstanding. There's a real sense that a star is being born here... though let's not get ahead of ourselves quite yet. The last mile is the longest mile. Second set: Kvitova* 6-3, 3-3 Sharapova. And all of a sudden, the nerves start to show. A terrible mistake by Kvitova at 30-15. Her serve to the advantage court takes a huge kick right, sending Sharapova out of the game. All Kvitova has to do is dink the return into an empty court. Instead, she balloons an absurd backhand miles wide of the left-hand sideline. And then another at deuce, missing the easiest of smashes at the net, hoicking a load of nonsense yards wide right of another unguarded court. Sharapova breaks with a massive forehand down the right-hand line. That was very, very poor from Kvitova. Could those mistakes be as pivotal as Andy Murray's missed smash against Rafael Nadal in the second set yesterday?

Second set: Kvitova 6-3, 4-3 Sharapova*. This is a real rollercoaster now. Or is it a pendulum? It might be both. Kvitova knocks Sharapova backwards with some big, deep returns. She earns two break points, and wins the second, waiting patiently at the back of the court during a long rally until Sharapova finally cracks and booms a forehand long. After the utter nonsense she served up in the last game, that's a majestic response by Kvitova. She's getting closer and closer ... Second set: Kvitova* 6-3, 5-3 Sharapova. ... and closer and closer. Kvitova slips to 15-30, but sends down a wonderful couple of first serves: they're not tight in the corners, but have enough slice to send Sharapova too far wide to return accurately. She's a game away from her first major title. Second set: Kvitova 6-3, 5-4 Sharapova*. A service game to love. The players walk back to their seats for the changeover.

It'll be the longest wait for Kvitova, who is about to serve for the match, and the 2011 Wimbledon's Ladies' Singles championship. PETRA KVITOVA IS THE 2011 WIMBLEDON CHAMPION!!! Kvitova* 6-3, 6-4 Sharapova. Two big serves from the young Czech send Sharapova skittering out wide; Kvitova puts the returns away easily enough. Sharapova nets a return, and Kvitova has three championship points. She only needs one, hammering an ace down to secure her first major title! She drops to the famous turf, then quickly rises with a huge smile playing across her face. Sharapova - who never really had a proper look-in - air-kisses her at the net. What a win. What a player. That was an outstanding performance by the 21-year-old Czech. The Duke of Kent bowls into view, in order to deal out the trophies. Kvitova's name is already up, in gold leaf, on the honours board. That was pretty quick work. Sharapova picks up her silver runners-up platter and smiles grimly. She looks gutted.

In truth, she never looked happy today. Then Kvitova gets to raise the famous winner's shield over her head, to warm applause. She smiles shyly. "I'm nothing special," said the modest Kvitova before the match. And yet the evidence is piling up to the contrary. The post-match interviews: Poor Sharapova manages a grim smile, and generously congratulates Kvitova for her brilliant victory. Then Kvitova is asked whether she's just played the best game of her life. "Er, I think so," she laughs. Is she ready to take her lap of honour around Centre Court with her new trophy? "Yes, I am ready." Damn straight she was ready. What a performance. A deserving champion, a wonderful performance in the final, and a fine end to a magnificent tournament. The men have it all to live up to tomorrow; let's hope they manage it.

Topics Novak Djokovic has beaten Rafael Nadal in four sets and been crowned Wimbledon champion Published: 3 Jul 2011 After winning his first Wimbledon title Novak Djokovic said that he had to play his 'best match ever' to beat Rafael Nadal Published: 3 Jul 2011 The British teenager Liam Broady was grateful for the advice he received from the Wimbledon champion during his memorable juniors campaign Published: 3 Jul 2011 Petra Kvitova set the emotions flowing inside Centre Court as she defeated Maria Sharapova and became the first left-hander to win Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova Published: 2 Jul 2011 LIVE Maria Sharapova - Petra Kvitová - Wimbledon women - 2 July 2011 - Eurosport KVITOVA SERVES OUT THE MATCH AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT WITH HER FIRST ACE OF THE DAY - SHARAPOVA 3-6 4-5 0-40 - Kvitova grabs the first point with a vicious forehand that Sharapova cannot return. And she grabs the second with another huge forehand that Sharapova returns into the net.

And Kvitova earns herself THREE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS with another body serve that Sharapova can only return into the net ... - SHARAPOVA 3-6 4-5 - Sharapova holds to love, Kvitova pulling a forehand return of serve well wide across court, and it will be a real test for the Czech player now as she has to hold her nerve to serve out for the title - SHARAPOVA 3-6 3-5 - Kvitova earns herself a game point with a great serve into the Sharapova body, the Russian can only return it long and when she slaps another forehand return long, Kvitova holds and leaves herself just one game away from the title. Sharapova will have to serve to stay in this match next ... - SHARAPOVA 3-6 3-4 - BREAK - Kvitova is nowhere near as tight on her ground-strokes as she is on serve and earns herself two more break points when Sharapova fails to deal with a cross court forehand and hits into the net.

The first goes begging when Kvitova nets a backhand but she sneaks ahead again when Sharapova hits a backhand long to concede her serve - SHARAPOVA 3-6 3-3 - BREAK - Wow! A very good return of serve from Sharapova is simply swatted away by Kvitova off the backhand wing but she can’t keep it up and the Russian earns herself another break back point. It goes begging with a backhand wide down the line but Kvitova misses a sitter, firing a shorter forehand wide across court, and this time Sharapova does break with a huge forehand return of serve winner - SHARAPOVA 3-6 2-3 - BREAK - Kvitova just gets the ball back deep waiting for the error from her opponent and it works as Sharapova eventually slaps a forehand long to be pegged back to deuce. Kvitova then goes on to earn a break point when Sharapova hits wide although she squanders it with a forehand into the net.

Sharapova comes up with a great pick up off her shoelaces but it can't stop Kvitova setting up a second break chance and this time she gets it with a forehand winner - SHARAPOVA 3-6 2-2 - BREAK - Sharapova ups her hitting almost imperceptibly and Kvitova hands the Russian a break back point with a forehand into the net. Sharapova is nothing if not a competitor though and she does secure the break back with a inch-perfect lob down the centre of the court, the ball landing right on the baseline - SHARAPOVA 3-6 1-2 - Much better from Sharapova on serve as she holds to love to get off the mark in this second set, a solid first serve being returned into the net by Kvitova - SHARAPOVA 3-6 0-2 - A couple of doubles from Kvitova don't help her cause although the Czech player does come up with a spectacular backhand drop shot, picking the ball up off her shoelaces on the baseline.

The second double sees Sharapova level at deuce but two huge serves that the Russian cannot return helps Kvitova hold and consolidate the break - SHARAPOVA 3-6 0-1 - BREAK - Another double fault from Sharapova, already her fifth, hands Kvitova another break point. And another stunning forehand winner down the line, the ball catching the very back of the line, does earn Kvitova the break. She is all over the Russian at the moment - SHARAPOVA 3-6 - SET - Kvitova earns herself three more set points, this time on her own serve, after jamming Sharapova with a body serve. Only one is needed though as the Czech player takes the first set with another great serve that Sharapova can only return into the net - SHARAPOVA 3-5 - Sharapova had not dropped a set in these championships prior to the final today but she suddenly finds herself set point down when she hits another forehand into the net. She saves it with her first ace of the day and goes on to hold with some huge hitting that leaves Kvitova scampering around the baseline.

The Czech player will have the chance to serve it out though - SHARAPOVA 2-5 - Kvitova is now just one game away from the first set as she holds to consolidate the break, firing down a smash winner after Sharapova had resorted to the left hand for a defensive forehand. And a forehand winner seals the hold for the Czech. The Russian will have to hold to keep this first set alive after the change of ends - SHARAPOVA 2-4 - BREAK - Some absolutely huge hitting from Kvitova has Sharapova struggling on the baseline and ends with the Czech player levelling at 30-30 with a forehand winner down the middle of the court. Sharapova hands Kvitova a break point with a double fault before conceding her serve with a second straight double. That's Sharapova's Achilles heel right there - SHARAPOVA 2-3 - Kvitova has settled well now as she holds to 30, perhaps getting a little lucky early on in the game when Sharapova dumps a backhand into the net despite having the open court to aim at.

But Kvitova goes on to hold with a great first serve to sneak out in front once again - SHARAPOVA 2-2 - A double fault from Sharapova hands Kvitova a 15-30 lead against serve and she even has the chance to earn another break point with a backhand across court that only narrowly drifts wide. But Maria goes on to hold with a clenched fist and a yell of "come on" when a Kvitova forehand sails long - SHARAPOVA 1-2 - Kvitova gets herself out of a spot of bother at deuce with a huge cross court forehand that leaves even Sharapova failing and hitting into the net.

And the Czech player goes on to hold by running round the ball and belting a ferocious forehand winner straight down the line - SHARAPOVA 1-1 - BREAK - An absolutely blistering forehand winner riffled down the line by Kvitova gets the game off to a great start for the Czech and she goes on to break back and get off the mark with another forehand that Sharapova can only return into the net - SHARAPOVA 1-0 - BREAK - The Russian's decision to receive first immediately pays dividends as she earns a break point with a huge forehand that Kvitova can only return short of the net. And Maria does break for the first game with a forehand winner - The players are just about ready to go and it will be Kvitova to get things underway by serving first after Sharapova won the toss and opted to receive first ... - It's a great day at Wimbledon today; sunny, warm, clear blue skies. In short, perfect tennis conditions! - The players are finally walking out on court after a really lengthy wait by the doors for the clock to tick over to 2pm. They came down from the locker room a little early there methinks!

- These two have faced each other just the once before, in Memphis on the hard courts last year, with Sharapova winning that one in straight sets. But, although Kvitova reached the semi-finals at SW19 last year, the Czech player has improved immensely since then - Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage from the women's Wimbledon final between former champion Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova 0 comment Petra Kvitova Photos Photos - The Championships - Wimbledon 2011: Day Twelve - Zimbio In This Photo: Petra Kvitova Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic holds her Championship trophy and blows a kiss to the crowd as she walks off court after winning her Ladies' final round match against Maria Sharapova of Russia on Day Twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2011 in London, England. Kvitova won 6-3 6-4.

Kvitova takes Wimbledon title – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs Kvitova takes Wimbledon title [Update 10:37 a.m] Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic defeated Russian Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-4 in the Wimbledon women's singles championship, the final point coming on a thundering ace that froze Sharapova where she stood. Kvitova is only the third left-handed woman to win the championship in the open era, which started in 1968; one of the others was fellow Czech Martina Navratilova. [Update 9:51 a.m.] Petra Kvitova won the first set of the Wimbledon best-of-three women's final, 6-3 over Maria Sharapova. Sharapova had four double-faults in the set. [Original post 9:31 a.m.] No. 5 seed Maria Sharapova is playing No.

8 Petra Kvitova Saturday in the women's final at Wimbledon, a matchup heralded by NBC analyst Mary Carillo as the epitome of "Big Babe Tennis." The 6-foot-2-inch Russian and the 6-foot Czech are prime examples of the "grip it and rip it" power game that thrills former champion Martina Navratilova, SI.com's Bruce Jenkins writes . Sharapova won the title in 2004, when she was just 17; this is 21-year-old left-hander Kvitova's first appearance in a Grand Slam final. The match began at 9 a.m. ET.Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal will contest the men's final on Sunday after both secured four-set semifinal victories Friday. Djokovic, of Serbia, beat France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and will take over from Nadal as world number one, whatever the outcome Sunday. Nadal came back after losing the first set to score a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over British hope Andy Murray.

Nadal looked ready to surrender his service in the second set before Murray missed an easy forehand winner. That signaled a turning point as the Spaniard won the next seven games to take a stranglehold on the contest he never relinquished. Czech Petra Kvitova Wins Wimbledon Title | CPR Czech Petra Kvitova Wins Wimbledon Title By Scott Neuman, NPR News Jul 5, 2014 Czech Petra Kvitova beat Eugenie Bouchard in a lopsided victory to win a Grand Slam in the women's singles final at Wimbledon, besting her opponent 6-3 6-0. The Associated Press says that in her match with Canadian Bouchard, Kvitova, who won the championship in 2011, "dominated play with her big serve, aggressive returns and flat groundstrokes." The AP writes: "The Czech player broke serve three times, including in the final game of the set, which lasted 32 minutes." "It's the first Grand Slam final between two players born in the 1990s.

Kvitova is 24, Bouchard 20." By way of background, ESPN says: "When Kvitova won the Wimbledon singles title in 2011 in a straight-sets upset over Maria Sharapova, it was Sharapova's loss more than Kvitova's win. That happens when a (then-) three-time Grand Slam champion and former Wimbledon champ goes down. "Petra Kvitova admits she was unprepared for the spotlight that rested on her following her 2011 Wimbledon championship. "But the fact that the then-21-year-old from the Czech Republic was playing in her first Grand Slam final just one year after coming into Wimbledon unseeded and winless on grass spoke to her vast potential. "And beating Sharapova set the bar very high indeed for Kvitova." Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit . Hide Petra Kvitova schools Eugenie Bouchard in Wimbledon women's final - LA Times Petra Kvitova schools Eugenie Bouchard in Wimbledon women's final Wimbledon Championships Petra Kvitova holds the championship trophy following her victory over Eugenie Bouchard.

Petra Kvitova holds the championship trophy following her victory over Eugenie Bouchard. (FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / EPA) Bill Dwyre Petra Kvitova teaches Eugenie Bouchard a lesson in the women's final at Wimbledon School was in session Saturday afternoon on Centre Court at Wimbledon , and Petra Kvitova was doing the teaching. That wasn't how it was supposed to be. This was to be a coming-out party for young Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard . At 20, her lessons seemed to be well-learned and the presumption was that this final test would be aced. At least that seemed to be the conclusion of the media, especially the local media here, which couldn't seem to resist falling in love with a long blond ponytail and a privileged Canadian heritage that included Bouchard and her siblings being named for English royalty. Most of the prominent space for photos here the last few days were filled by pretty shots of pretty Eugenie. That wasn't her fault. She's a good player, one who had made the semifinals of the last two major tennis tournaments. It's hard to feel sorry for Novak Djokovic, but we need to.

For the second straight Wimbledon tennis tournament, he is positioned as the spoiler, Mr. Buzz Kill. (Bill Dwyre) But Saturday, she wasn't able to live up to her press clippings. Again, not her fault. Kvitova played the match of a lifetime. She certainly didn't mean it this way — tennis players play tennis and tabloid newspapers sell titillation — but her response to all this couldn't have been more definitive. She didn't just win. She put an exclamation point on it. Her 6-3, 6-0 victory was accomplished in 55 minutes, the fastest women's singles final in 31 years. It was a dominating, smothering, no-prisoners-taken outcome. The tall left-hander from the Czech Republic out-did Bouchard in winners, a stunning 28-8, and in total points, 61-37. Photo: Petra Kvitova in action Al Bello / Getty Images Two-time champion Petra Kvitova returns a shot against Eugenie Bouchard during the Wimbledon women's final on Saturday.

Two-time champion Petra Kvitova returns a shot against Eugenie Bouchard during the Wimbledon women's final on Saturday. (Al Bello / Getty Images) That's a 15-1 baseball game, or 10-1 hockey result. While Bouchard was getting her picture on all the front pages, Kvitova was busy scheming with her longtime coach, Davis Kotyza. The plan was to go for every shot, to keep Bouchard so back on her heels that she wouldn't know backhand from forehand or night from day. It was attack, attack. And then attack some more. Most tennis matches are won by accumulating lots of well-placed singles. Kvitova never considered that. Every time she pulled the racket back, she went for the fences. Seldom has a plan worked as well as this one. "… I was trying to do every point for really 100%," Kvitova said. And when that worked, she even surprised herself, especially on one hotly contested exchange in the first set in which Bouchard had her on the run and Kvitova finished the point with a near-impossible lunge backhand cross-court passing shot.

That one left Bouchard and the packed Centre Court crowd in stunned disbelief. Kvitova, too. "Some shots," she said, "I say, oh my God, this is good." About her incredible lunged backhand winner, she said, "O.K., that's not normal. ..." Kvitova had already won a Wimbledon title. She beat no less than Maria Sharapova in the 2011 final. She also beat a vastly improved Venus Williams , a five-time champion here, in a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-5 third-round dogfight last week. She is only four years older than Bouchard, but in this sport that made her a once-was, rather than a more marketable new-and-shiny. But the buzz started to go in a different direction as early as the third game of the first set. Kvitova broke serve with a gigantic forehand winner, then held her own serve for 3-1 with that incredible backhand passing lunge. Both the crowd on hand and the worldwide TV audience had to sense something then. Kvitova's flat, harshly angled groundstrokes were all going in.

Her typically funky left-handed serving angles were all catching lines. She resembled a female Jimmy Connors, with shots clearing the net by inches and, in the process, leaving the opponent flat-footed and dead in the water. Bouchard, who has worked her way up to No. 7 in the world (Kvitova is No. 4), suffered all the slings and arrows of a one-sided rout — she got bagled in the second set of a Wimbledon final in front of millions — and handled it with grace. The end of the match just beat a rainfall, and so Kvitova and Bouchard were brought inside while the roof was closed for the awards ceremony. "It was a little odd," Bouchard said. "I ended up in the engraver's room, watching them work. Wishing one day, dreaming, he'll write my name somewhere." When she came back out, with all the attention correctly on Kvitova, she sat quietly while being occasionally consoled by one or another All-England Club stuffed shirt. Then, when it was time for her to take the microphone, she did herself proud.

She told the crowd, "I'm not sure I deserved all the love you gave me today, but I really appreciated it." She told the media afterward, "I have to give full credit to my opponent. She played, you know, unbelievable. ..." Match point was a backhand cross-court winner. Perfect. In the three years since she won her first Wimbledon title, Kvitova had not been back to a Grand Slam tournament final. That made the line of questioning after each of her advances here predictable. What happened? Her answer didn't vary much. She had struggled. She hadn't handled it well. The outside stuff that comes with being a Wimbledon champion got in the way of the inside stuff on the tennis court. Saturday, she found the perfect antidote. "I love to play in finals," she said. "I love to play on the big stadium. This is something really special. ... My stomach felt a little bit funny. It's just goose bumps." Goose bumps also went the other way, to all those watching. It was a spectacular display of tennis by a player who, on this day, had been projected to be the wallflower in the back of the classroom. Instead, we got Professor Petra Kvitova.

Also, a youngster who still needed more study time. Wimbledon 2011: Kvitova stuns Sharapova to lift women's title Wimbledon 2011: Kvitova stuns Sharapova to lift women's title 07/03/11 AT 6:01 AM Close Czech tennis player Petra Kvitova, a powerful 21-year-old left-hander, defeated Maria Sharapova in straight sets Saturday to win the ladies' championship at Wimbledon. Kvitova became the first Czech woman to win Wimbledon since Jana Novotna in 1998 and first left- handed woman to capture the crown since another Czech, Martina Navratilova won her record ninth title in 1990. The best lefty of all time Martina Navratilova sat in the Royal Box along with Novotna and both would have been mighty impressed by the composure and fearless hitting of Kvitova. Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic (L) holds the winners trophy as she stands next to Maria Sharapova of Russia holding the runners-up trophy, after defeating her in their final match.

Photo: Reuters It is the first Grand Slam title for Kvitova and fourth tournament win of the year. The No. 8 seed produced a stunning display of power-hitting to defeat 2004 champion Maria Sharapova. She won 6-3, 6-4 on the famed grass Centre court. On the way to the final, Kvitová defeated Alexa Glatch, Anne Keothavong, 29th seed Roberta Vinci, 19th seed Yanina Wickmayer, 32nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova, and 4th seed Victoria Azarenka. After Saturday’s victory Kvitova struggled to put her achievement into words. “I knew that I have to be the first who is playing hard and who is making the points. So I tried it. It was unbelievable feeling, for sure. So I was so happy. I don't know. It's strange, she said, Reuters reported. It's a big step considering that my results here in the last few years haven't been that good.

It's a big step because my game is improving, and it's a big step because it gives me a tremendous amount of confidence going forward,” said Sharapova, whose last grand slam final appearance was the 2008 Australian Open. Kvitova had burst on to the scene 12 months ago with a surprise run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon. Kvitová started 2011 by winning her second career title at the 2011 Brisbane International by defeating Andrea Petkovic in the final and also earning wins over 3rd seed Nadia Petrova and 5th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. With 36 matches won against eight losses, she had rocketed up the rankings in 2011 after being placed in thirty-fourth position at the end of 2010. 2011 Wimbledon: Petra Kvitova, Maria Sharapova reach final WIMBLEDON, England -- So what if Maria Sharapova managed to win only two of the first 13 points of her Wimbledon semifinal Thursday, dropping the first three games? So what if she bungled her serve so badly that she double-faulted 13 times?

All that mattered to Sharapova was that she roared -- well, shrieked -- her way back into the match, taking 12 of the last 16 games to beat wild-card entry Sabine Lisicki of Germany 6-4, 6-3 and return to the final at the All England Club for the first time since 2004, when she won the title at 17. "It's been many years, but it's a really great feeling," Sharapova said. "Today wasn't my best match of the championships, so I was real happy to get through in two sets. But, yeah, it's pretty amazing to be back on that stage." In Saturday's final, Sharapova will play No. 8 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, who hit nine aces and dictated points throughout her 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory over No. 4 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Sharapova's seven-year gap between Wimbledon finals is the longest for a woman in the Open era, which began in 1968. "I'm in a different stage in my career. I'm 24 years old.

I have a lot of experience behind my back," said Sharapova, who hasn't lost a set during the tournament. "But I'm still playing tennis." That wasn't always a given: Months after winning her third, and most recent, Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open, Sharapova was sidelined with a serious injury to her right shoulder. When rehab wasn't enough, she had surgery in October 2008. It was an arduous road back, and only now has she returned to the top of the game. "You're going to have certain doubts, I mean, when you go through something like that," the fifth-seeded Sharapova said, "knowing that not too many players have recovered fully." Kvitova, who lost in last year's Wimbledon semifinals, is the first left-handed woman to reach a Grand Slam title match since Monica Seles at the 1998 French Open. She would be the first lefty to win the Wimbledon trophy since 1990, when Martina Navratilova -- who was born in Czechoslovakia and was a spectator at Centre Court on Thursday -- earned her ninth title.

"There's been so few women lefties that were good," Navratilova said. "For Petra, I think the key's always been to minimize those streaks of bad play. She's very streaky." There's little question who the favorite is Saturday: Sharapova will be playing in her fifth major final, the 21-year-old Kvitova in her first. Sharapova seeks her 24th career title, Kvitova her fifth. "Experience is an incredible asset," Sharapova said, "because you feel like you've been through many different situations." In their only previous meeting, Sharapova beat Kvitova in straight sets on an indoor hard court at Memphis last year. Then again, here's what Kvitova's coach, David Kotyza, took away from that: "Petra knows how to play against her." As for whether Kvitova might be intimidated against Sharapova, Kotyza said: "I don't think so. No.

She doesn't care who she plays." In Thursday's opening semifinal, Kvitova wasn't distracted one bit by Azarenka's shot-accompanying screeching -- which drew snickers from the crowd on the match's very first point -- or the fire alarm that droned on for a couple minutes in the fifth game. Punctuating nearly every point she won with a yelp, Kvitova showed why she was honored as the WTA newcomer of the year in 2010. Still, she acknowledged afterward that, as recently as two weeks ago, "I didn't think, like, that I could win" the Wimbledon title. Azarenka begged to differ. "She can beat anybody, any day, because right now she has really good game," Azarenka said. "She's really going for it." Indeed, Kvitova took the initiative, accumulating a 40-9 edge in winners. Her serve helped her get through some important moments: She hit three aces in the last game of the first set, and she dug out of a 15-40 hole while serving in the final set's fifth game, ending it with another ace.

Sharapova was forced to tweak her service motion after her operation, and Thursday's match is only the latest evidence that there's still a problem. While losing in the French Open semifinals a month ago, she hit 10 double-faults, including on the final point. Against the 62nd-ranked Lisicki, Sharapova put in only 48 percent of her first serves. There were two double-faults in Sharapova's first service game. Two more in her next gave Lisicki a break point, meaning Sharapova was one point from trailing 4-0. This, then, would be where things turned. Sharapova hit a serve ruled out; she challenged the call, and the replay review showed the ball landed in. The next serve was good, and Lisicki wound up trying a drop shot -- a tool she used to near-perfection in her quarterfinal victory over 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli -- that sailed wide. Eventually, Sharapova held serve there, broke in the next game and was on her way. Despite problems with her serve, Maria Sharapova advanced to the Wimbledon final in straight sets.

Clive Mason/Getty Images "The first three games she played very well, and I did quite the opposite. She served better, and I was giving her way too many free points on my serve," Sharapova said. "And then I told myself to take it one point at a time and really focus. I felt like I just kind of got in my zone." Soon enough, she was marking shot after shot with her high-pitched grunts and celebrating point after point with her signature shouts of "Come on!" Up in the player guests' seats, her fiance, New Jersey Nets guard Sasha Vujacic , would raise a fist or clap and say, "Bravo!" Sharapova closed the first set, oddly enough, with a 103 mph ace, threw her head back and screamed. Fully in control, Sharapova raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set, as some drops of rain began to fall. Lisicki tried, without success, to talk the chair umpire into suspending play -- it would take a half-hour or so to close the stadium's retractable roof.

Play continued, and Sharapova kept smacking groundstroke winners on the run, generally looking like someone ready to regain the championship. "The next match starts from scratch," she cautioned. "Everything that kind of went before that doesn't really matter." Petra Kvitova wins Wimbledon women's final against Eugenie Bouchard – as it happened | Sport | The Guardian Petra Kvitova wins Wimbledon women's final against Eugenie Bouchard – as it happened Petra Kvitova won her second Wimbledon title with a brilliant 55-minute dismantling of Eugenie Bouchard Saturday 5 July 2014 10.36 EDT First published on Saturday 5 July 2014 08.00 EDT Close 3.36pm BST That's all from me. An astonishing and thrilling if one-sided match and a pleasure to watch, even if I largely did so in mouth-agape awestruck numbness. Bye!

3.34pm BST A few statistics, just to illustrate quite how ridiculous Kvitova's performance was: First serves in: Bouchard 61%-68% Kvitova First serve points won: Bouchard 46%-82% Kvitova Second serve points won: Bouchard 36%-38% Kvitova Break points: Bouchard 1-13 Kvitova Winners: Bouchard 8-28 Kvitova Unforced errors: Bouchard 4-12 Kvitova Total points won: Bouchard 37-61 Kvitova 3.25pm BST Ladies and gentlemens, your champion! Petra Kvitova holds the championship trophy following her victory over Eugenie Bouchard in the women's singles final at Wimbledon. Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA Updated And now, Petra Kvitova speaks. I had a great tactic from my coach [I'm not sure that playing like an absolute deity of sport counts as a tactic, but hey ho]. He always knows what I have to play. I just wanted to be here with the trophy.

It was a tough match, mentally I already played one final. All my team helped me a lot during the years to come back here [she is very emotional at this point, apparently close to tears, so the crowd help her out with some applause to give her time to collect herself]. I can't say it's more special but definitely after three years to stand here with the trophy again, it's amazing. Definitely it's an amazing time for me. I've still a lot of work to do as many as Martina [Navratilova] has, but let me deal with it. 3.20pm BST Presentations having been made, Sue Barker speaks to Eugenie Bouchard . I'd like to congratulate Petra, she played fantastic these two weeks. It was really tough for me today, but I'm proud of how I've played this whole tournament. I love coming back to Wimbledon so thank you guys. I feel like it's a step in the right direction. I don't know if I deserve all your love today, but I really appreciate it. 3.18pm BST The presentation is now in progress, under a closed roof.

Bouchard gets a massive ovation from the crowd as she collects her silver platter, and even musters a little smile. She's got a bright enough future not to get too distressed by the present. 3.17pm BST More celebwatching: 12 years a slave, 55 minutes a final. British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and his partner Sari Mercer sit in the Royal Box on Centre Court before the start of the women's singles final. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 3.15pm BST If there's a silver lining for Bouchard, it's that she might get to meet the person she was named after … Princess Eugenie of York attends the ladies singles final between Eugenie Bouchard and Petra Kvitova. Photograph: Karwai Tang/WireImage 3.12pm BST It took Kvitova 55 minutes to win that. Fifty five minutes. I don't even think Bouchard played terribly. The only time she seemed to be effected by the occasion was when she realised just what kind of car crash she was involved in, and of course by then it was too late.

Kvitova just produced, from the first moments, a display of awesome power and accuracy. If she could do that every time she stepped on court, she'd be up there with the legends. Updated Petra Kvitova is the Wimbledon champion! Second set: Bouchard* 3-6, 0-6 Kvitova (denotes player who has just served) The game starts with three successive lets, which seems Bouchard's best way of extending the match. When she lands a serve in, it's returned with a great deal of interest and the point is swiftly lost. There's also a ludicrous forehand winner, and at 30-30 Bouchard hits a backhand into the top of the net to bring a first championship point. She takes it, inevitably, with another crosscourt winner. Stunning stuff. Genuinely awe-inspiring. 3.03pm BST Second set: Bouchard 3-6, 0-5 Kvitova* (denotes player who has just served) This is incredible tennis from Kvitova, one of the great Wimbledon final performances.

Everyone loves a close match, the rallies and sweat and emotion and tension, but this has been thrilling in its own remorseless way. There have been so few chinks in her armour today – a bit of over-ambitious hitting, but a lot of sheer perfection. Kvitova is 25-7 up in winners, and is about to win her second title. 3.00pm BST Second set: Bouchard* 3-6, 0-4 Kvitova (denotes player who has just served) What on earth does a 20-year-old in her first Grand Slam final think, as she sits in her chair, a set and 0-3 down? Bouchard, as ever, looks unmoved, but she's on the edge of a cliff and teetering. Kvitova though is playing as if determined to catch the end of the Tour de France, attempting to slam winners without waiting for the best moment to hit one, which is where all those unforced errors are coming from.

The game does feature perhaps the best point of the match, and certainly the best for a while, in which Bouchard hits a succession of excellent ground strokes before approaching the net and watching Kvitova stress to hit a delicious crosscourt pass. That makes it 40-40, prompting another flurry of ludicrous shotmaking from the Czech, and it's another break. 2.54pm BST Second set: Bouchard 3-6, 0-3 Kvitova* (denotes player who has just served) The crowd, desperate to see a game, acclaim a fine forehand return winner (it was a second serve) and, later, a nice backhand pass down a very open line. Those two shots and a wild forehand (Kvitova's 10-3 up in unforced errors, which mainly illustrates how many errors she has forced) take the game to deuce, at which Kvitova hits an unreturnable first serve, and then an ace. See ya. 2.50pm BST Second set: Bouchard* 3-6, 0-2 Kvitova (denotes player who has just served) Kvitova breaks!

She's in such a hurry here, strutting rapidly across the court between points and preparing to shatter her opponent in the next one. Bouchard needs to refuse to be hurried. These are moments she'll never get back. Extend them, stretch them. At the moment she isn't doing that, but she's still showing occasional flashes of inspiration, with a crosscourt backhand winner saving a break point in some style, but then Kvitova slams three successive shots of such perfect depth that sooner or later Bouchard just can't get one back. Updated Kvitova wins the first set First set: Bouchard* 3-6 Kvitova (denotes player who has just served) Kvitova is not to be denied the set for long. After forcing a couple of errors there's a fabulous backhand crosscourt return winner that brings up three set points. She misses the first two, the second with an improvised swing of the racket that sends a return about two inches wide, but not the third, which she takes with a thunderous forehand crosscourt return. She's been all but unstoppable so far, massively, undeniably impressive.

2.41pm BST First set: Bouchard 3-5 Kvitova* (denotes player who has just served) Bouchard breaks back! There's another double point, Bouchard's first of the game, and she wins all the rest as well, capitalising on a second serve and sending a forehand right onto Kvitova's toes, and then another with a down-the-line passing shot, and then Kvitova slams the ball into the net. 2.37pm BST First set: Bouchard* 2-5 Kvitova (denotes player who has just served) Bouchard is taking a battering here, blown away by the force and accuracy of Kvitova's hitting and left clinging on desperately and hoping she's still around when it rains or Kvitova's mind wonders. At 15-30 she's so focused on hitting a strong second serve that she doesn't get it in at all, and Kvitova takes her first break point with a thunderous forehand that lands a yard away from Bouchard and she still has no hope of reaching.

2.34pm BST First set: Bouchard 2-4 Kvitova* (denotes player who has just served) That was quick. Kvitova holds to 15, handing one point away with a double fault and winning all the rest in short order. 2.31pm BST First set: Bouchard* 2-3 Kvitova (denotes player who has just served) In the blink of an eye it's love-30, at which Kvitova winds up a backhand return to a second serve but slams it into the net. It's a lifeline Bouchard doesn't grasp, and a double fault promptly hands Kvitova a couple of break points. Bouchard saves one with a fine forehand – though she was helped by a poor return right into her hitting zone – and Kvitova hits her next couple of returns long and Bouchard is back in the game. She has to save another break point, but the only reason Kvitova didn't win that game was wild unreliability: her game was all winners and unforced errors.

So far Kvitova has hit more than twice as many winners as her opponent, and more than twice as many unforced errors. 2.25pm BST First set: Bouchard 1-3 Kvitova* (denotes player who has just served) Bouchard hits some excellent returns here, three of them point-winners and all of those from the same side of the court , but the only joy she gets on the other side is from a double fault, the second serve hit way deep. The game is won after a brilliant rally, with Bouchard seemingly well on top of the point until Kvitova improvises a superlative on-the-run crosscourt pass. 2.19pm BST First set: Bouchard* 1-2 Kvitova (denotes player who has just served) Kvitova breaks! Bouchard also started her game with an ace down the middle, but she's shown what might happen if she doesn't get her first serve right when Kvitova absolutely batters a second serve back with extreme interest to make the score 30-30, and she follows that with a massive crosscourt backhand to earn beak point.

The players then trade unforced errors before Kvitova, already hitting so cleanly, takes her second break point with a finely angled and inevitably massive forehand. 2.15pm BST First set: Bouchard 1-1 Kvitova* (*denotes player who has just served) Kvitova's first serve of the day is an ace. And so it begins. There are a further two service winners, one a second serve, as she holds easily. 2.13pm BST First set: Bouchard* 1-0 Kvitova (*denotes player who has just served) The best point is the third, where the players trade gently crosscourt baseline drives before Bouchard thumps one down the line for a clean winner. The game is held to 30, with no signs of debilitating nerves on either side. 2.10pm BST 11.50am BST Good afternoon Simon will be here real soon. While you are waiting, here is Simon Cambers' preview for the final. Enjoy.

When Petra Kvitova makes the long walk along the corridors of the All England Club before the final on Saturday, she will stop to look at the honours board, partly to check her name is still there, partly to remind herself of what she has achieved in the past. The Czech takes on Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, a player appearing in her first grand slam final but with the ambition to match her talent. It promises to be an enthralling encounter. For Kvitova, this year’s Wimbledon has been a mirror of her 2011 campaign. Like so many tennis players and sports stars in general, she is sticking to what worked; she is eating the same breakfast every day (gluten-free bread, bought in Wimbledon village, perhaps with jam) and the same lunch (pineapple and rice). She will have a light hit in the morning with her coach, David Kotyza, on the same court she has used every day, then she will begin her warm-up about 45 minutes before the final is due to start. On paper, as a former champion and the No6 seed, Kvitova is the favourite to win a second title.

Her greater experience should stand her in good stead but whether she can handle the pressure of being favourite is questionable. Unlike the 20-year-old Bouchard, who seems to revel in the spotlight, Kvitova is much happier among friends and family. The 24-year-old found it hard to cope with the fame and media interest that came with her 2011 win and her grand slam results since then have been more down than up. This fortnight, though, Kvitova has been more relaxed than ever and after edging out Venus Williams in the third round, she has not dropped a set.

Question: Petra Kvitova won the Wimledon Ladies Championship in 2011. What nationality is she?
Answer: CZECH