For almost the entirety of Petra Kvitova’s storied 17-year career, the hard courts of the Miami Open have played slowly in humid Floridian weather, conditions entirely unsuited to the best fast-court player of her generation. In her 12 previous Miami Open appearances, she had never passed the quarter-finals.
But this year, the courts have been unusually fast, infusing Kvitova’s vicious lefty serve and nuclear groundstrokes with even more pace. She has ruthlessly taken advantage of the more favourable conditions and on Saturday afternoon the 15th seed closed off nine days of vintage ball-striking by outmuscling Elena Rybakina, the 10th seed, 7-6 (14), 6-2.
