There were five Czech players in the last 16 at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament, two of whom advanced to the last eight. Petra Kvitova defeated world number three Jessica Pegula 13-11 in a third set tie-break after turning over four match points from her opponent. Karolína Muchová also beat Markéta Vondroušová in the Czech derby after a three-set battle.
Kvitová confirmed that he did well against the dreaded Pegula, losing just one of his five matches so far.
At Indian Wells, she started well, serving twice in the first set, not giving her a single break point and winning the opening set in 28 minutes.
But in the second round, the American converted both of the break points she had, although Kvitová also used them 100 percent, but because she only got one, she lost the set 3:6 and had to decide on the third.
The Czech immediately dropped serve in them, and came close to leveling at 2:2, another breakthrough imminent. Both players then held their serves until Pegulaová took a 5:4 lead and served out. He also earned a match point, but Kvitová turned it in and then chased his opponent.
Despite soon losing serve again, not even the top three managed to hold on, and a shortened game had to bring resolution. Along the way, not a single player has managed to get away from the opponent, only once (at 4: 2 for Pegula) the difference was more than one point.
Match points alternated on both sides, the American did not use the next three matches, but Kvitová did fourth and with a score of 13:11 she celebrated by advancing to the quarter-finals after two hours and sixteen minutes.
In it, she will play Greece’s Maria Sakkariová, who eliminated Karolína Plíšková in the last 16.
Although Muchová dropped first serve in the Czech derby and lost 3:4, she went on to turn things around for three straight games and win the opening set.
In the second set, she led 5:2 after the break, at 5:3 she had a match point on serve, but Vondroušová turned it in, winning the game and quickly leveling the match.
Another chance to end the match was given to Muchová with a score of 6:5 and serve, but twenty-three-year-old Vondroušová also set up this moment and in the tie-break she clearly dominated her compatriot who was three years her senior, 7:2.
In the decider, starting 3:2 for Muchová, both Czechs dropped serve, only Muchová managed to hold on in the crucial moment with a score of 5:4, meaning victory after two hours and 37 minutes.
After two losses, Muchová defeated Vondroušová for the first time in a reciprocal match, and among the last eight matches, she would face reigning Wimbledon champion Jelena Rybakinová of Kazakhstan for a place in the semifinals.
In his only match so far, he beat her 2:0 nearly four years ago at the US Open.
Indian Wells Men’s and Women’s Tennis Tournament (Hard Courts):
Women ($8.8 million endowment):
Singles – Round of 16: Kvitova (15-CR) – Pegulaová (3-USA) 6:2, 3:6, 7:6 (13:11), Muchova (Czech Republic) – Vondrousova (Czech Republic) 6:4, 6:7 (2:7), 6:4, Šwiateková (1-Pol.) – Raducanuová (English) 6:3, 6:1, Cirsteaová (Roman.) – Garciaová ( 5 -Fr.) 6:4, 4:6, 7:5, Rybakinová (10-Kaz.) – Gračová (Rus.) 6:3, 6:0.
Men ($10,143,750 subsidy):
Singles – Round of 16: Alcaraz (1-Sp.) – Draper (England) 6:2, 2:0 scratch, Fritz (4-US) – Fucsovics (Germany) 6:4, 6:3, Auger-Aliassime (8-Fr. ) – Paul (17-USA) 3:6, 6:3, 7:6 (8:6), Sinner (11-It.) – Wawrinka (Switzerland) 6:1, 6:4, Tiafoe (14-USA) – Tabilo (Chile) 6:4, 6:4,
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