Andrea Petkovic took down No.6 seed Petra Kvitova in the second the second round of the US Open, 6-4, 6-4 in 97 minutes at Louis Armstrong Stadium court.
The 31-year-old German said she knows how to beat her opponent, but she respects and admires Kvitova 100% afterwards.
“I’ve beaten her before in Grand Slams and important matches. That gave me the belief and I think that’s the most important thing if you want to beat great players on big stages,” Petkovic said.
“I respect and admire her so much, you are just 100% focused, you don’t let anything slip and that gives me the power to be in the moment and play my best tennis.
“I know what doesn’t suit her but when she plays well she has these weapons that don’t allow you to do your thing most of the time.
“I feel so happy. Petra is one of my favourite players. It was a crazy end. I had some ups and downs, but was there in the most important moments. It feels like a big win, but not because it’s against Petra but because of the last few weeks and how I’ve been able to work through a phase that was difficult for me.
“I think a big problem when you get a little older, you get a little panicked by stuff because you don’t know how much time you’ve got. I’m pleased at how I handled that.” Petkovic added.
Petkovic will be the underdog again when she takes on 25th seeded Elise Mertens, who beat Kristyna Pliskova 6-2 6-2.
Kvitova, meanwhile, is the highest women’s seed to bow out in the US Open after losing to Petkovic. However, the Czech admitted that she struggled to break up in the second.
“I had my chances, of course, but I was always missing,” Kvitova said.
“I was a break up in the second and I should have made it. Overall, I don’t think I played that bad really, but that’s how it is.” she added.
