Kvitova beat Rybakina 7-6(14), 6-2, and at 33 years old, she became the oldest Miami Open champion since Serena Williams won it in 2015. The win also helps her return to the Top 10 of the World Rankings, a first for her since 2021.
The win is also her 9th WTA 1000 tournament title and her 99th WTA 1000 tournament. It is also the 13th time she’s appeared in the Miami Open main draw. Her Hologic WTA Tour finals record has now been extended to 30-11.
The match went into a tie-break and Kvitova is aware that it was that that drew the match in her favor.
“That was deciding the whole match for sure. I think it was the longest one I ever played in my life. Nothing is easy hanging out with Elena,” she said.
“(She hit) so many aces at the beginning of the tie-break, I was like oh my God, I couldn’t even play, so it was a little difficult,” added Kvitova.
She also played that her experience has played well for her, especially against the younger set of players, including Rybakina.
“I think it has played a good role in my mind. I have played so many finals. I know I can play well in a final, no matter who I am facing. So mentally that was important for me to know that,” she said.
“Of course, this means a lot, that at my age I can still win big tournaments, the young ones are coming up all the time, it’s tough to face them all the time, it’s very tiring,” she added.
As for the men’s draw, the finals will feature former World Number 1 Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner who pulled off a surprising upset of tournament favorite Carlos Alcaraz.