Both Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova stood to benefit from the absence of the global stars — what few there are compared to the men’s side — in women’s tennis. At Wimbledon, someone stood to see their international star rise. And in today’s first semi-final match, it was Kvitova who took full advantage with a victory over Azarenka 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
The eighth seeded Czech star is only 21 and is now in her first Grand Slam final. She previously has won four singles titles including the 2011 Madrid Masters, which was another victory — that time in straight sets — over Azarenka. Kvitova has been on the rise already, achieving her highest world ranking to date at No. 8 just earlier this month — before her stunning rise at Wimbledon.
To date, Kvitova has already knocked off Tsvetana Pironkova, Roberta Vinci, Anne Keothavong, Alexa Glatch and Yanina Wickmayer. She now faces the winner of the Maria Sharapova v. Sabine Lisicki match.