World Tennis News – Djokovic and Kvitova victorious in Canada

Djokovic on form to defend Rogers Cup crown

Top seed Novak Djokovic comfortably defeated Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-2 to retain his title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

The win gives the Serbian World No.2 a 31st ATP World Tour singles title, a 12th Masters 1000 shield and maintains his challenge to regain the top ranking from Roger Federer.

Djokovic began the final with three unforced errors to gift Gasquet three break points in the first game but the 14th seeded Frenchman was unable to capitalise.

Gasquet, who had beaten Tomas Berdych, Mardy Fish and John Isner to reach the final, stayed with the Serb until 3-3 when Djokovic upped his level to reel off 12 consecutive points. A second serve ace gave the 25 year-old the set after 32 minutes.

Djokovic broke in the first game of the second set courtesy of a Gasquet double fault. The Frenchman, a Bronze medallist in doubles from London 2012, got on the board in the third game and then held a break back point.

The top seeded Serbian forced Gasquet into error with a deep forehand to avert the danger and then built a double break lead by ending a 24 stroke rally with a forehand winner in the seventh game.

Djokovic served out to 15 when a Gasquet forehand return went long after 61 minutes of play to give the Serb his third title of 2012 and first since Miami in April.  Read about Djokovic's victory in Miami here

Stat Attack – Djokovic

• With 12 Masters 1000 shields Djokovic passes Pete Sampras for fourth on the all time list and now trails only Andre Agassi (17), Roger Federer (20) and Rafael Nadal (21)
• The win was the Serb’s ninth title on US hard courts – eight have been Masters 1000 crowns plus the 2011 US Open title
• Djokovic is just the third man to win the Rogers Cup at least three times following six-time champion Ivan Lendl (1980-81, 1983, 1987-89) and three-time winner Andre Agassi (1992, 1994-95)

Stat Attack – Gasquet

• The Frenchman was also runner-up at Masters 1000 events in Toronto in 2006 and Hamburg in 2005 and now holds a 6-10 record in ATP World Tour singles finals
• Gasquet moves back up to 13th in this week’s rankings – his highest since August 29th last year 

Kvitova edges out Li to win in Montréal

Petra Kvitova defeated Li Na 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in an exciting final of the Rogers Cup in Montréal to win her first title of 2012. 

In a closely fought battle between former Grand Slam champions it was Li who struck first with a break in the third game. The 2011 French Open winner then held a point to lead 4-1 which Kvitova saved with a backhand winner onto the line.

Last year’s Wimbledon champion broke back with a backhand winner in the sixth game and then moved ahead 5-3 when Li missed a forehand.

Serving for the set in the ninth game Kvitova netted a short forehand at 30-30 and was broken. Having held serve from love-30 at 4-5 Li held four break points in the eleventh game.

Kvitova hung on for 6-5 and converted her fourth set point in the following game to seal the opener after a hard fought 62 minutes.

Tenth seeded Li, who moves back into the top 10 this week after her performance in Canada, responded by rattling off the first 16 points of the second set to lead 4-0. She levelled the match four games later by forcing Kvitova into a backhand error.

Games went with serve in the decider until Li came under threat in game six. The 30 year-old saved two break points but mishit a forehand on the third as Kvitova moved into a 4-2 lead.

The Czech fifth seed struck a service winner on her first match point at 5-3 to seal her eighth WTA singles crown after two hours and 16 minutes of play.

Stat Attack – Kvitova

• Kvitova was appearing in her first WTA final in North American at the 24th attempt
• The 22 year-old had been the only player in the top 10 not to have reached a final in 2012
• Kvitova is the only female player this year to have reached at least the quarter finals of all three Grand Slams having reached the semi-finals in Melbourne and Paris and the last eight at Wimbledon

Stat Attack – Li

• The 30 year-old was aiming to win a 6th WTA title, from 13 finals, and her first since winning the 2011 French Open
• It was the first time Li had beaten two top 10 players - Sara Errani and Agnieszka Radwanska – in the same tournament since Roland Garros last year