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Rediff.com  » Sports » PHOTOS: Unstoppable Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title
This article was first published 9 years ago

PHOTOS: Unstoppable Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title

July 05, 2014 21:54 IST

Image: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic poses with the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy after winning the Wimbledon title
Photographs: Al Bello/Getty Images

Petra Kvitova ended Eugenie Bouchard's hopes of becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 6-0 win in just 55 minutes in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.

The Czech captured her second title at the All England Club having also lifted the Rosewater Dish in 2011.

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PHOTOS: Unstoppable Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title

Image: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada stands dejected
Photographs: Al Bello/Getty Images

It was the quickest final since Martina Navratilova took 54 minutes to wallop American Andrea Jaeger 6-0, 6-3 in 1983.

Much had been made of Bouchard's raw power and determination to triumph in what she calls the "Temple of Tennis" but the 20-year-old was unable to cope with sixth seed Kvitova's more varied attacking style.

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PHOTOS: Unstoppable Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title

Image: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic plays a forehand return
Photographs: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Kvitova hit rip-roaring winners left, right and centre to win the most one-sided final since Steffi Graf also dropped only three games against Monica Seles in 1992.

"I had great tactics from my coach - he always knows how I need to play," Kvitova told the crowd during the presentation ceremony after hoisting the Rosewater Dish for the second time in four years.

"After three years to be back here with the trophy is so special."

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PHOTOS: Unstoppable Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title

Image: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic celebrates after winning the final
Photographs: Al Bello/Getty Images

Kvitova's only blip during a 55-minute demolition job was when she first attempted to serve out the set at 5-2. She dropped her serve but then broke her rival in the next game with a thumping return.

Left-hander Kvitova simply went into overdrive in the second, winning it in 22 blistering minutes, and ended her victim's ordeal with a sizzling backhand crosscourt winner.

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PHOTOS: Unstoppable Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title

Image: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in action
Photographs: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Kvitova, 24, was in great form throughout the tournament as she dropped just one set in her seven matches on her way to winning her second Wimbledon title.

She will rise to fourth in the world rankings next week.

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PHOTOS: Unstoppable Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title

Image: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada
Photographs: Pool/Getty Images

Bouchard was watched from the Royal Box by the British princess she had been named after but the occasion of playing in her first major final appeared to overwhelm the 13th seed.

"It was really tough for me today but I am proud of how I have played for these two weeks," the Canadian said.