LINZ, Austria - The Top 2 were thwarted in the semifinals of the Generali Ladies Linz on Saturday, with Flavia Pennetta and Agnieszka Radwanska both falling one match short of the final at the International-level tournament.
Radwanska, the No.2 seed, was the first to go out, losing to an unseeded Petra Kvitova in an hour and 22 minutes, 63 62. Radwanska, who had reached the semifinals of Tokyo two weeks ago and the final of Beijing a week ago, seemed to be out of gas against an aggressive Kvitova, who earned her third Top 10 win, having beaten Venus Williams and Dinara Safina previously.
"I was getting a little bit nervous at the end there but I'm happy I made it," said Kvitova, whose seemingly routine win ended with a marathon final game, which she took on her seventh match point. "I thought Agnieszka was a little bit tired today, but I'm very happy to reach the final here and go for my second title."
Kvitova's first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title came at Hobart in January.
"It was just too tough today. I tried, but she didn't give me many chances," Radwanska said. "Petra didn't really have to do anything special to beat me today. I have a few days off now before I play in Moscow, and hopefully I will play at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha after that."
Pennetta, seeded No.1, followed Radwanska to the sidelines with a 76(5) 63 loss to No.3 seed Yanina Wickmayer. After losing four of the first five games of the match Pennetta found her range, taking four straight games to lead 5-4 and serve for the first set. Wickmayer regained the momentum though and took the one set lead, cruising to victory in a 39-minute second set.
"I'm very happy. I've been so close to beating the top players the last few months and now I finally beat one," Wickmayer said. "I'm enjoying my tennis and playing well. I had some cramps and nerves today at the end, but it has been a long season and everybody's tired. After the final I'll have a day or two off before my next tournament, hopefully I can recover from this week!"
Check out the photo gallery and Yanina Wickmayer's blog from Linz.
Wickmayer's win over the world No.11 was her career-best. Before this week her best win came against then-No.18 Virginie Razzano at the US Open.
"She was playing very aggressive. I had some chances in the first set but I just didn't make it. I tried to fight but she was too strong today, that's it," Pennetta said. "Linz is such a good place and everyone has been really nice. The organizers and sponsors do so much for the tournament. We tried our best today and I hope everyone enjoyed the tennis."
Wickmayer and Kvitova, both 19, have played three times before. Kvitova won their first meeting, 26 64 75, at an ITF Women's Circuit event last year. Wickmayer has won both of their meetings this year, 62 64 en route to the title at Estoril and 46 64 75 en route to the semifinals of the US Open.
