Petra Kvitova on Miami Open triumph: "I think nobody really expected this"
Petra Kvitova won the 2023 Miami Open by beating Elena Rybakina 7-6(14), 6-2 in the final on Saturday, April 1.
Kvitova produced some terrific tennis in front of the Miami crowd to break Rybakina's 13-match winning streak and clinch her 30th career title. It was also her ninth WTA 1000 title.
Speaking in her on-court interview after the match, Kvitova said that she was very happy to win the Miami Open, while also calling her triumph unbelievable.
"It's unbelievable. I have to say probably, the three talking numbers, my 33 forehands, I'm 33 years old and it's my 30th title, so I'm very happy," she said.
Daniela Hantuchova, one of Petra Kvitova's on-court interviewers, asked the Czech how she would have responded if she had told her before the tournament that she would win the Miami Open.
The two-time Wimbledon champion jokingly responded that she would have laughed at her. Kvitova also claimed that no one, including herself and her team, expected her to win the Miami Open.
"I would have laughed at you I'm sorry, but it was great for sure. I think nobody really expected this, not either me or my team I would say. So, I really enjoyed this (2023) Sunshine Double. I'm injury free and yeah, oh my god I made it," the 33-year-old said.
The 2023 edition marked Kvitova's 13th appearance in the tournament. It was also the first time the former World No. 2 went past the quarterfinals in Miami.
Petra Kvitova will return to the top 10 of the WTA rankings after Miami Open 2023 triumph
Petra Kvitova's sensational triumph in Miami will also see her make a return to the top 10 of the WTA rankings after being absent for nearly two years.
Kvitova's last appearance in the top 10 was back in September 2021. However, she will make a return following her victory in Miami, climbing two spots to 10th in the rankings.
Kvitova is next scheduled to compete at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, which will start on April 17.
Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, will stay put at her career-high World No. 7 despite her exploits at the Miami Open. The reigning Wimbledon champion is also a part of the line-up at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, where she will be joined by World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and others.