AFP, New Haven :
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova appears ready to make a run at her second Grand Slam title this summer.
The No. 4 ranked Czech star dominated Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-2 Saturday to win the Connecticut Open, her second title in New Haven in the past three years.
“That’s something what I need probably, have some matches before (the Open),” she said. “I know last two years I had great run here, but I didn’t have great results in U.S. Open. Still, I mean, I hopefully can make it little bit better.”
The No. 4 player in the world also won here in 2012 before losing in last year’s final to Simona Halep. She did not drop a set in New Haven this week as she prepared for next week’s U.S. Open.
Kvitova broke Rybarikova’s serve in the sixth game and final game of each set, running her opponent from one side of the court to the other. She sent a backhand across court on the final point and Rybarikova did not attempt to chase it down.
Rybarikova said she injured her right thigh sliding to get to a ball Friday in her semifinal win over Camila Giorgi of Italy and was not sure she would be able to play on Saturday.
She grabbed the back of her leg several times while sprinting after Kvitova’s shots, but never called for a trainer.
“In the beginning, it was OK, but then it started to be worse and worse,” she said. “It’s tough to play like this against such a great player. But I don’t want to say I lost because of that.”
The Czech star was again dominant on her serve and was broken just once, in the ninth game of the match. It was just the third service break she had suffered this week. She also double faulted just 10 times during her four matches.
“Last year I play a lot of three setters, not only here,” she said. “I’m just glad that I did it without dropping any sets. I’m just very impressed about that.”
Rybarikova said she also was impressed and believes her long-time friend has a great chance to win in New York.
“She can return. She can serve. She’s even moving very well. She improved a lot,” Rybarikova said. “She can beat anybody, absolutely, when she’s playing her game.
Kvitova she came into New Haven having played just three times since winning her second Wimbledon title, losing in her second match in Montreal and her opener in Cincinnati.
