MADRID — Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova romped to the Madrid Open title Saturday with a crushing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Czech ended Serena Williams's 27-match winning streak in the semifinals and was far too good for Kuznetsova, who looked heavy-legged after spending more than 11 hours on court to reach the final. “I am very happy, I am really glad that I could win here for the second time in Madrid,” said Kvitova. “It is unbelievable for me to finish the week like this. I know that Svetlana wasn't feeling very well, so I wish her good luck.” The world No. 4 only recently returned to action after a six week break after admitting to being physically and mentally exhausted by the travails of the tour. And that break looks to have done her the world of good as she was the far fresher player in sealing her 16th career title and second in Madrid. Kuznetsova fended off three break points to hold serve at 1-1, but was blown away thereafter as Kvitova reeled off five straight games to take the first set. The Russian took a medical timeout at the change of ends, but that didn't disrupt Kvitova's rhythm as she moved 4-0 up in the second. Kuznetsova showed great determination to finally get on the board in the second, but that only delayed the inevitable as Kvitova rounded off victory in little over an hour on court. Nadal in final Rafael Nadal reached his seventh final at the Madrid Open by defeating Tomas Berdych 7-6 (3), 6-1. Yet to drop a set this week, Nadal will face either 2008 champion Andy Murray or last year's finalist, Kei Nishikori, in the final Sunday. Nadal has won the last two Madrid Opens, and will attempt to win his fifth overall. He found the lines against Berdych, who beat him in the Australian Open quarterfinals, down both lanes with unerring accuracy, and forced Berdych to cover a lot of ground. Nadal thanked the cheering fans, saying, “You don't know what this means to me.” He said when he arrived in Madrid he hadn't been sure he would be able to advance past the first round, but that Saturday's match was the best he'd played all year. On Friday, Andy Murray is also safely into the semifinals for the first time in Madrid Open clay as he overcame a hobbled Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-5. Sixth seed Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych saved a match point in the second set before seeing off giant American 16th seed John Isner 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/1). One break in each set was enough to continue Murray's perfect start to the clay court season after winning his first tournament on the surface earlier in the week in Munich. Raonic has withdrawn from Rome next week and seemed to still be struggling with the foot problem that forced him to pull out of the Monte Carlo Masters last month as Murray used a series of drop shots to good effect. “Certainly (his injury) altered the way I played the match a little bit,” said Murray. “I felt when I was serving I played the match well. I made him do a lot of moving. He seemed to be moving okay from side to side, but it was moving forward that was causing him the issues.” The Scot will next face Japanese fourth seed and 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori who demolished David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2 in just 72 minutes. — Agencies
