Return Winners: the 2012 WTA Canada final

Petra Kvitova and Na Li met in the final of the Rogers Cup, one of the most prestigious hard-court events leading up to the US Open.

After winning six titles in 2011—including Wimbledon and the WTA Finals—Petra Kvitova was off to a slow start in 2012. The young Czech failed to reach a final over the first half of the year, but after back-to-back quarterfinal finishes at the Olympics and Wimbledon, she broke through with a run to the title match in Canada.

In the final she would face another player that had a major breakthrough in 2011, Na Li. Like Kvitova, China’s top player failed to replicate her Grand Slam-winning success in 2012, but the prior-year’s French Open champion managed to reach her third final of the year.

At the start of the year, Li beat Kvitova in the semifinals in Sydney for her second win in a row over the Czech going back to 2011. Kvitova got off to a slow start here, going down 3-1 before rallying to take the lead. Up 5-6, the number-five seed broke Li’s serve to take the opener.

In the second, it appeared that history was going to be in the making as Li stormed back, winning the first 16 points to stand only one-third of the way from completing a “Golden Set.” Kvitova halted that charge, but couldn’t catch up enough as Li eventually won it 6-2 to push the match to a decider.

Errors crept into Li’s game in the third, as Kvitova started going for more on her shots again. She was broken at 2-3, which proved to be all the cushion the Czech needed. Up 5-3, Kvitova clinched the title with an ace on match point for her first tournament triumph of the year.

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Both players were trying to win their first title in North America.

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Kvitova became the first player competing under the Czech flag to win the title in 26 years, dating back to 1986 when Helena Sukova beat Pam Shriver for the title.

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The last Rogers Cup final that went to three sets took place in 2001, when Serena Williams defeated Jennifer Capriati in an all-American battle.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias

ATP Toronto

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev headline the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Watch live coverage from four courts on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, August 6th at 11:00 A.M.