Kvitova overcomes Safarova to win title

NEW HAVEN (USA), August 30

Defending champion Petra Kvitova used a dominant serve to beat Lucie Safarova 6-7(6) 6-2 6-2 in their all-Czech final at the Connecticut Open on Saturday.

Kvitova faced only one break point and was never broken as she remained unbeaten in seven career matches against her compatriot. The second seed collected her 17th WTA title and her third in New Haven after victories in 2012 and 2014.

After a disappointing middle of the season during which she was slowed by a bout of mononucleosis, Kvitova will head to the US Open with renewed confidence, though she will need some rest before her first round match on Tuesday. “I feel terrible, but doesn’t matter,” Kvitova said. “I will have a day off. It was very tiring.”

Kvitova and fourth seed Safarova, left-handers born less than 150 km apart, wore identical outfits — red skirt, white top and red headband. They even had matching wristbands. — Reuters

Anderson wins third ATP title

Cary: Second seed Kevin Anderson used his powerful serve to end the unlikely run of qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert with a 6-4 7-5 victory in the final of the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina on Saturday. One break in each set was enough for Anderson to clinch the third ATP title of his career and end a streak of losing seven straight finals. The tall South African was broken only once in the entire tournament in a promising warm-up for the US Open. — Reuters