Petra Kvitova beats Dominika Cibulkova to win Wuhan Open 2016 title

Petra Kvitova picked up her second Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open title in three years with an unstoppable performance to beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-1 6-1 in Saturday’s final in the central Chinese city.

“It’s great for sure to win it for a second time. I’m happy for that, how I played all week. I think it was amazing really,” said Kvitova, who also won the WTA Premier 5 title in 2014, in the tournament’s first year. “I do like Wuhan, for sure. I don’t know especially why. But from the first year I played here, I did really feel like home.”

Kvitova took time to remember her friend Li Na, who is from Wuhan and is an ambassador for the tournament. “It’s for sure because of Li Na, as well. I know how she loves Wuhan, as well. I think the fans are great because of her as well.

“I do like the conditions here, as well. I do feel that it’s little bit like faster, if I can say. I really can play my game here. I’m not really sure why, but I do feel great. I mean, everything around, like the organisation, accommodation is great. We have a beautiful hotel. It’s just great venue for us. I always love to playing here.”

Cibulkova admitted that she was overpowered by the two-time Wimbledon champion.

“She was just really hitting everything full power. She was just serving really well, going for returns. I couldn’t really play my game that I played during this week,” said Cibulkova. “I Couldn’t get in the long rallies or in the rhythm because she didn’t let me. She was really powerful from the first strokes. That’s how she overpowered me today.”

This week has taken Cibulkova to a career high ranking of No.8 and kept alive her hopes of making the eight-player field for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore.

“You know, it’s amazing. That’s why I said I see the big picture. I never played well in Asia these last tournaments of the year. This is for me my first time in the career when I was still able to play a great tennis in the end of the season where everybody’s really tired.

“So this means for me really, really a lot. I’m not thinking about Singapore that much because that would be a dream come true if I would get there. I don’t want to make too much pressure on myself.”