Kvitova snaps Serena run to reach Madrid Open final

MADRID — Serena Williams’s stunning 27-match winning streak stretching back to last year’s WTA finals was snapped in resounding fashion by Petra Kvitova on Friday as the Czech progressed to the Madrid Open final 6-2, 6-3.

Kvitova will face Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova in Saturday’s final after she also pulled off a big upset in beating defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-4.

Kvitova has only recently returned to the tour after a two-month break after admitting to feeling physically and mentally exhausted, but she looked the fresher player in wrapping up victory in just over an hour on court.

After a tight start, the Wimbledon champion reeled off four consecutive games from 2-2 to take the first set.

Kvitova then stormed into an apparently unassailable 5-1 lead in the second.

However, Williams had battled back from three match points down against Victoria Azarenka on Wednesday and ensured a nervy end for Kvitova by getting one of the breaks back to close to 5-3.

Yet, there was to be no repeat of the 19-time Grand Slam champion’s heroics earlier in the week as Kvitova broke again on her first match point to seal her first victory over Williams in six attempts.

“I had never beaten her, so it is special day for me and I am happy it is in a semi-final here in Madrid so I can play the final,” said Kvitova