EASTBOURNE: Petra Kvitova moved into the Eastbourne semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Harriet Dart as the former Wimbledon champion stepped up her preparations for next week’s Grand Slam.

Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, is using the WTA Tour event on England’s south coast to warm up for her grass-court title bid.

The 32-year-old veteran might be past her peak these days, but she is still a danger on grass.

Dart showed glimpses of her talent during a spirited display against 14th seed Kvitova but never seriously threatened an upset.

Kvitova dominated thanks to a series of powerful groundstrokes and deservedly claimed a second British scalp, having eliminated Katie Boulter in the previous round.

Dart, 25, denied her Czech opponent’s first two match points but, having briefly turned that precarious position into her first break point of the afternoon, was unable to save the third.

In the other semi-final, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko faces Italy’s Camila Giorgi.

Latvia’s Ostapenko, the reigning Eastbourne champion, overcame Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-2, while Giorgi defeated Viktoriya Tomova 6-2, 6-1.

In the men’s singles, American third seed Taylor Fritz will meet Australian Alex De Minaur in the semi-finals.

Fritz beat Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2 and De Minaur saw off Tommy Paul 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Jack Draper is the last British player in the men’s or women’s singles after beating compatriot Ryan Peniston 6-3, 6-3.

Draper plays France-born American Maxime Cressy in the last four.

Cressy defeated British number one Cameron Norrie 7-5, 7-5.

SERENA’S COMEBACK CUT SHORT

Serena Williams’ doubles campaign at Eastbourne ended due to an injury to her partner Ons Jabeur, organisers said on Thursday.

Tunisian Jabeur had injured her right knee, Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) said in a social media post.

Serena and Jabeur won their first two matches in the tournament and were scheduled to play in the semi-finals against Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia and Poland’s Magda Linette.

The WTA 500 tournament was the first competitive event for Serena — though she picked only doubles — since the 23-times major champion limped out of her first-round match at last year’s Wimbledon in tears due to a leg injury.

The 40-year-old, who has won seven Wimbledon singles titles, has taken a singles wildcard for the grasscourt major — the main draw of which starts on Monday.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2022