Petra Kvitova is into the Quarter-Finals of the French Open after beating Zhang Shuai in straight sets 6-2, and 6-4. The win also means Kvitova will be in the top 10 after the tournament.
Strong start for the Czech:
The Czech Republic native went to work on Zhang's opening service earning a breakpoint and converting on it to take an early 1-0 lead as Zhang hit a forehand into the net. She held her serve and then earned another breakpoint on the Chinese next service game with a backhand down the line.
The Tianjin native double-faulted to give the 11th ranked player in the world a 3-0 lead. The 30-year-old Czech had an easy service game and the 39th ranked Chinese women finally held a service game. The next game was a particularly long one that lasted about eight minutes, going back and forth between the two players.
Kvitova eventually held her service game to take a 5-1 lead and had set point on Zhang's serve, but her opponent would save it with a beautiful passing shot. Zhang would serve and force the Czech to serve it out, finishing the first set with a big ace to take 6-2.
Closing it out :
The first game of the second set was almost identical to the first game of the match as the 11th ranked player in the word had breakpoints once again on the 39th player in the world. The Chinese women would save the first two but then the Czech had a third chance to break and converted with an amazing return winner.
The number seven seed would hold her serve and then Zhang would respond with a love service game to make it 2-1. Both players held serve until it was 4-2 when the 11th seed had a chance to increase her lead which she did winning a great point with that huge forehand to make it 5-2.
Serving for the set, the 39th player in the world was determined to keep it going and finally had breakpoints on the Czech serve. She forced the error from her opponent. She would break Kvitova serve as the number seven seed would hit a second straight error. The 11th ranked player in the world actually had a match point in the next, game but Zhang would save it as the Czech would hit a shot long.
Zhang would hold serve it make it 5-4 and once again the number seven seed had a second chance to win the match. She earned three match points with a forehand winner and sealed the victory with another winner down the line.
Petra Kvitova will now face Laura Siegemund in the quarter finals. Siegemund booked her spot beating the Spaniard Paula Badosa.
" I never played her. I know she has a lot of variety in her game, she is definitely playing well being in the Quarter-Final and it will not be easy but I am happy to be in Quarter-Final but she is a dangerous opponent".