Brilliant Petra Kvitova puts an end to Australian Open Ashleigh Barty party

Michael Graham
Petra Kvitova celebrates

Ruthless Petra Kvitova was in no mood for an Ashleigh Barty party as she ended the home favourite’s run at the Australian Open.

Barty had hoped to end Australia’s 41-year wait for a homegrown AO women’s singles champion, but fel short at the quarter-final stage.

“Sorry, guys. I beat Ashleigh,” Kvitova told the crowd at Melbourne Park after her 6-1, 6-4 win.

“She’s such a nice person and you should be very proud of her.

“Great match. I start very well, I served well. In the second set, she doesn’t give me anything for free and I really had to fight.”

The win was clearly especially emotive for Kvitova, who has only recently returned to the game following a stabbing incident.

“I didn’t really imagine to be back on this great stadium and play with the best and it’s great,” she added.

“Obviously once you get a taste of it, you’re always hungry for more,” she said, having only returned to tennis in 2016 following an 18-month hiatus.

“I’ve always been extremely driven and passionate, especially coming back this second time around, about how I’ve wanted to go about things, I think, more importantly.

“I’ve begun to understand better off the court how I can enjoy it more and enjoy the process, trust the process, get the results that we’re after.

“I finished the season of 2018 with a title. I’ve had my best start to 2019. Certainly no complaints from here.”

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