WASHINGTON, March 23 -- No. 3 seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic needed more than two and a half hours to see off Donna Vekic of Croatia on Saturday and continue her Miami Open campaign.
Kvitova had to dig deep in the third round match, needing three sets to edge past the always-dangerous Vekic, the No.26 seed, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
In a match between two heavy hitters, the player serving was constantly under pressure for much of the opening set. Both players traded breaks at the start, with Vekic breaking first and Kvitova bringing them back level at 1-1. A total of 14 break chances were on offer in the next four games, with both players attacking the returns, but they were unable to convert, staying on serve at 3-3.
Kvitova seemed to find another gear and added more variety to her game. This seemed to vex Vekic as the Czech player took her chance to break Vekic for a 5-3 lead and finally closed out the set.
In the second set, Vekic stepped up her game and cut down on the unforced errors. She was rewarded with an early double break for a 3-0 lead before securing the set.
In the deciding set, both players continued to trade heavy shots from baseline, but it's Kvitova who broke first and took the edge. The scoreline went on with players holding on serve before Kvitova served out the match in the 10th game.
Louis Vuitton chases fakes from market
Adopted children discover China
Confessions from beyond the grave
Chinese Apple users favor free programs
Syria claims gains in Aleppo
Military dismisses islands war fear
TV channel suspended for showing porn
173 sheep killed by lightning
Suicide bombing kills at least 22 in Yemen
Japan 'must end outdated policy'
S. Korea's Lee apologizes for graft scandal
Romney booed at NAACP convention
Forbidden fruit leaves aftertaste for group of suspected thieves
Accident raises concern over trucks
Attitude toward sex, pregnancy changing
Organizers brace for social-media nightmares sure to come
2 dead, 19 injured in Toronto shooting
Hand, foot, mouth disease kills 240
Putin's Israeli visit to focus on Iran
Gubei community becomes center for cross-cultural links
Beijing flood death toll hits 77
Arrests destroy criminal gang in market
Eight miners rescued from coal mine accident
Military to strengthen ties with US
New rules for blood donors, but concerns linger
Olympic-themed lottery debuts
Court closes loophole used by illegal drug makers
New rule to rein in spending
Asians top immigrant group to US
Federer, Djokovic set for first grass match