In-form Kvitova grinds down Pennetta to make quarters

2011-01-24 09:29:21 Last Updated: 2011-01-24 14:34:47

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic watches her return to Serena Williams o... Melbourne: Czech Petra Kvitova plays with her flaxen hair and flashes an awkward smile when asked about her giant-killing exploits at grand slams, but behind the shy demeanour and mouthful of braces are nerves of steel and a fierce desire to win. The 20-year-old advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday, grinding down Italian former top-10 player Flavia Pennetta 3-6 6-3 6-3 to notch her ninth consecutive victory. That followed her humbling of local hope Sam Stosur, where she calmly silenced a parochial crowd at Rod Laver Arena's centre court and earned a congratulatory call from childhood idol Martina Navratilova. "I met her yesterday and she said congrats, so it was nice to hear that from her," 25th-seeded Kvitova told Reuters in an interview at a player's lounge. Second seed Zvonareva sweeps into quarter-finals "She told me to keep going, and 'you can do it!'" While the visit from the 18-times grand slam singles champion was appreciated, Kvitova wants to carve out her own place in the history books. "When I was growing up she was my hero, but now I just want to play my own game," said the lanky six-footer, who caused a major shock last year when she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon when ranked 62nd. Kvitova is the second youngest player left in the draw at Melbourne Park behind top seed Caroline Wozniacki, who she thrashed at Wimbledon on the way to a gallant defeat by Serena Williams. On her Wimbledon run she nervelessly saved five match points against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in the quarter-finals. "I'm not thinking about when my opponent has a match point, I'm just thinking that it's another point," she said. Kvitova will face Vera Zvonareva in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, and said she would rather read a book or watch a comedy movie than study videos of the world number two. She feels little need to change things for the Russian given that her game has delivered nine successive wins, including the warm-up Brisbane International earlier this month where she beat fellow quarter-finalist Andrea Petkovic of Germany. "She's got that game to make it in the big tournaments," said Petkovic, seeded 30th here. "When she's on fire it's tough to get in the match. She serves well and she's a leftie, which is really tough." Australian Open  Having collected A$210,000 ($208,000) for her efforts so far, Kvitova has her sights set on buying a second house in the Czech Republic where her Wimbledon exploits have thrust her reluctantly into the limelight. "Of course, I became a little bit famous in the Czech (Republic), but I don't know if I'm changed after this," she said, twirling a lock of her hair. "I just want to be myself and nothing special."