Kvitova marches closer to No.1 ranking as Wozniacki loses in Sydney

The fight for the world No. 1 ranking in women’s tennis now lies in the hands of Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova after the Czech marches into the semi-finals of the Apia International in Sydney on Wednesday while the incumbent No. 1, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, was beaten by good friend Agnieszka Radwanska.

Kvitova was the first of the two to take the court and she started fast off the blocks – winning the first set without dropping a game and the completing a 6-0, 6-4 win over Slovakia’s world No. 21 Daniela Hantuchova.

The Czech, who needs to win the title this week to supplant Wozniacki at the top, has now won her last 14 WTA matches – dating back to last October. This does not count the four matches she won at the Hopman Cup last week.

Kvitova can take over the No. 1 ranking by winning the title this week. And her rival, Caroline Wozniacki did herself no favours.

The Dane won the first set 6-3 against Agniezska Radwanska and also served for the match at 5-4 but that’s when the Pole found her range to win the second set 7-5 and the third. Wozniacki needed to get treatment for her wrist at 1-2 down in the final set and she was also in tears after her loss.

It was the Pole’s second win in seven career meetings over her good friend from the junior days.

Radwanska will now take on world no. 3 Vitoria Azarenka in the semi-finals.

Azarenka was too strong for Marion Bartoli – winning 7-5, 6-4 while Kvitova will meet world no. 5 Li Na. The French Open champion was too strong for Czech Lucie Safarova 6-2, 7-6.