Wimbledon 2014: Petra Kvitova wins second women's Wimbledon title as she destroys Eugenie Bouchard | The Independent
Wimbledon 2014: Petra Kvitova wins second women's Wimbledon title as she destroys Eugenie Bouchard
Czech’s power and shot-making is too much for rival in 6-3 6-0 win
Saturday 5 July 2014 14:07 BST
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The Independent Online
The moment Petra Kvitova won the final against Eugenie Bouchard GETTY IMAGES
It was a display of which any of the legends in the Royal Box would have been proud. Under the approving eyes of former champions like Martina Navratilova, Martina Hingis and Maria Bueno, Petra Kvitova delivered one of the outstanding performances of recent Wimbledon history to claim her second All England Club title here.
Poor Eugenie Bouchard, who has won the hearts of the British public over the last fortnight, had no answer to Kvitova’s stunning shot-making. The 24-year-old Czech needed only 55 minutes to win 6-3 6-0, making it the shortest women’s final at Wimbledon since Navratilova beat Andrea Jaeger by the same scoreline in 54 minutes in 1983. It makes you wonder quite how Suzanne Lenglen beat Molla Mallory 6-2 6-0 in just 23 minutes in the quickest final in Wimbledon history in 1922.
The fact that Bouchard never found any rhythm on her debut in a Grand Slam final was down to the sheer power and accuracy of Kvitova’s hitting. The 2011 Wimbledon champion struck the ball superbly from both flanks. She hits her ground strokes flat and hard, with minimal top spin and very little margin for error. The ball flew off the slick grass, denying Bouchard the time to play her shots. The 20-year-old Canadian likes to dominate opponents but was never given a chance of doing that.
Petra Kvitova celebrates winning a point
 
Kvitova, who also served beautifully, said it was one of the best matches she had ever played. “I knew that I could play well on the grass, but I really played so well today,” she said. “I knew exactly what I had to do to beat her. I was very focused on every point. I knew I had to go forward with every shot to push her.”
With Princess Eugenie, whom Bouchard was named after, watching from the Royal Box, the Canadian showed no signs of nerves at the start of the first Grand Slam final to be contested by two players born in the 1990s.
Petra Kvitova kisses the winner's Venus Rosewater Dish during the presentation after beating Eugenie Bouchard
 
Kvitova might seem like a long- established figure within the game but she is still only 24. On this evidence she could win here many more times, though she said afterwards that she could not see herself emulating her fellow Czech, Navratilova, who won the Wimbledon title on nine occasions.
The morning rain had cleared by the time the match started, but under overcast skies it was significantly cooler than it had been in recent days. Kvitova, nevertheless, was red-hot from the start and Bouchard was soon struggling to cope with her power.
The best pictures from Wimbledon 2014
The best pictures from Wimbledon 2014
1/55 Day 13
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer pose with their trophies after the final
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Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Roger Federer
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3/55 Day 13
Samuel L Jackson and Sofia Davis in the Royal Box on Centre Court before the Gentlemen's Singles Final
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4/55 Day 13
Prince William Duke of Cambridge talks with Chris Hoy in the Royal Box on Centre Court before the Gentlemen's Singles Final
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5/55 Day 13
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Gill Brook wife of AELTC Chairman Philip Brook in the Royal Box on Centre Court before the Gentlemen's Singles Final
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Roger Federer celebrates clinching the first set of the men's singles final on a tie-break
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Petra Kvitova kisses the winner's Venus Rosewater Dish during the presentation after beating Eugenie Bouchard
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The moment Petra Kvitova won the final against Eugenie Bouchard
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Petra Kvitova and Eugenie Bouchard after their Wimbledon final
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Petra Kvitova celebrates winning a point during the Wimbledon final
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Maria Sharapova watches boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov during his semi-final with Novak Djokovic
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12/55 Day 11
Serbia's Novak Djokovic receives a ball before serving during his men's singles semi-final match against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov
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Grigor Dimitrov pictured during his semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic
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Grigor Dimitrov pictured during his semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic
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15/55 Day 10
Novak Djokovic of Serbia during a practice session as fans watch the action on day ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club
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16/55 Day 10
Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic celebrates after winning her Ladies' Singles semi-final match against Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic on day ten of Wimbledon
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning his Gentlemen's Singles quarter-final match against Marin Cilic
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch Andy Murray lose at Wimbledon
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Andy Murray pictured during his defeat to Gregor Dimitrov
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Andy Murray pictured during his defeat to Gregor Dimitrov
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Gregor Dimitrov celebrates his win over Andy Murray
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Canada's Eugenie Bouchard celebrates winning her women's singles quarter-final match against Germany's Angelique Kerber
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Romania's Simona Halep celebrates winning her women's singles quarter-final match against Germany's Sabine Lisicki
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Sabine Lisicki during her defeat to Simona Halep of Romania
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Australia's Nick Kyrgios celebrates winning a game against Spain's Rafael Nadal
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Nadal pictured during his defeat to Nick Kyrgios
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Rafael Nadal of Spain during his fourth round defeat against Nick Kyrgios
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28/55 Day 8
Serena Williams receives treatment during the warm up before her second round doubles match with sister Venus before retiring
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29/55 Day 8
Maria Sharapova of Russia stands dejected during her Ladies' Singles fourth round defeat against Angelique Kerber
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30/55 Day 8
John Peers of Australia (l) and Jamie Murray of Great Britain (r) during their Gentlemen's Doubles third round defeat
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Roger Federer during his Gentlemen's Singles fourth round victory over Tommy Robredo
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Novak Djokovic celebrates his win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
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Andy Murray after his victory over Kevin Anderson
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Sir Alex Ferguson watches Andy Murray in action
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Support for Andy Murray on Centre Court
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36/55 Day 7
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria celebrates after winning his Gentlemen's Singles fourth round match against Leonardo Mayer
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37/55 Day 7
Eugenie Bouchard of Canada celebrates after winning her Ladies' Singles fourth round match against Alize Cornet
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Eugenie Bouchard receives support on Centre Court
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39/55 Day 7
Japan's Kei Nishikori signs autographs after winning his men's singles third round match against Italy's Simon Bolelli
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40/55 Day 6
Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova (L) and US player Madison Keys (R) switch sides during their women's singles third round match on day six of 2014 Wimbledon
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Serena Williams fails to find the answers as she crashes out of Wimbledon
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Six hours of play were lost on Saturday
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43/55 Day 6
Maria Sharapova started slowly against the American Alison Riske but ran out a 6-3, 6-0 winner
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Andy Murray in action during his victory over Roberto Bautista
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Kim Sears watches Andy Murray in action during his victory over Roberto Bautista
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Ricky Gervais watches Andy Murray in action during his victory over Roberto Bautista
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Novak Djokovic tumbles during his victory over Gilles Simon
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Novak Djokovic in action against Gilles Simon
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The roof is closed for the first time of the 2014 Wimbledon championships
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50/55 Day 4
Roger Federer heads off Centre Court to await the roof to come over during his win over Gilles Muller
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51/55 Day 4
Britain's Heather Watson (R) looks on during her women's singles second round defeat to Germany's Angelique Kerber
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52/55 Day 4
Maria Sharapova of Russia in action during her Ladies' Singles second round victory against Timea Bacsinszky
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53/55 Day 4
Andy Murray walks out to start a practice session on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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54/55 Day 4
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia celebrates after winning her Ladies' Singles second round match against Jie Zheng
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