Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic posed with the Butch Buchholz Trophy after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the women’s final of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. The victory gave Kvitova her 30th WTA singles title, achieved in straight sets on Saturday.
The 33‑year‑old Kvitova, appearing in her first Miami final, won 7‑6 (16/14), 6‑2, a result that will return her to the top ten of the world rankings. Rybakina entered the final on a career‑best 13‑match winning streak after capturing the Indian Wells title and was aiming for the rare “Sunshine Double” of both WTA Masters events. The first set was a tight, serve‑dominated battle. Kvitova broke to go 5‑4 up, but Rybakina immediately broke back. The ensuing tiebreak turned into a 22‑minute, 30‑point duel; Kvitova saved five set points and ultimately prevailed when Rybakina moved to the net.
Buoyed by the tiebreak win, Kvitova seized the momentum in the second set, breaking early to lead 2‑0 and never allowing her opponent, 11 years her junior, back into the contest. Rybakina failed to convert a break point in the next game and was broken again while serving to stay in the match at 5‑2 down. Kvitova, who has now won 30 of 41 career finals, said the tiebreak was the turning point. “I’m still surprised. I think the tiebreak really decided the whole match in the end… it was probably the longest in my career and somehow I managed it,” she said. “She hit so many aces at the beginning of the tiebreak, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I couldn’t even play,’ so it was a little difficult,” Kvitova added, noting she now has nine WTA 1000 titles. “I had to serve very well today and I am glad I made it in the end, but honestly I have no idea how I did it,” she said.
Kvitova won 78 percent of her service points (52 of 67) and finished with 29 winners to 14 unforced errors. Rybakina served 12 aces, becoming the first player since Serena Williams at Wimbledon 2016 to hit 10 or more aces in six consecutive matches in a single tournament.
The ATP final on Sunday will feature Russia’s Daniil Medvedev against Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Friday’s semifinal.
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