Kvitova puts stop to Ivanovic

Petra Kvitova doesn’t mind flying under the radar. On Monday afternoon at the Australian Open, the Wimbledon champion and world No.2 breezed her way into the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 7-6 (2) win over Serbian glamour girl and former No.1 Ana Ivanovic.

Kvitova, who is an astounding 21-3 since a disastrous first-round loss at the US Open in August, has advanced to her second straight quarterfinal appearance at Melbourne Park. She’ll take on an unseeded player in the quarterfinals: No.48 Sara Errani.

But while all the talk continues to swirl around Kim Clijsters’ final Australian Open, Serena Williams’ continued dominance, Maria Sharapova’s attempt to win here again and Caroline Wozniacki’s quest to win her first slam, Kvitova has dropped just one set in four matches and could face the only unseeded player in the last eight.

On Monday, Kvitova used the power game that has vaulted her so far on the women’s tour to dominate Ivanovic at times, smacking 30 winners and seven aces, outdoing the Serb in both departments. The Czech’s lefty strokes match up to the biggest in the game, Ivanovic said.

“She definitely generates a lot of power,” said Ivanovic, who hadn’t lost a match to Kvitova in three previous meetings. “She’s not the kind of player who is going to let you get back in the rhythm.”

Kvitova lost her own rhythm in a second-round tussle with Carla Suarez Navarro. That match marked the lone set that Kvitova dropped in this tournament so far, eventually Kvitova’s pace overcoming the spins and slices of the world’s No.58.

It was a year ago that Kvitova broke the hearts of Australians by knocking out Sam Stosur in the third round on Australia Day. It was one of many character-building wins for Kvitova during the 2011 season.

But Kvitova will have to outdo herself from 12 months ago to get into the semifinals: she was stopped by Vera Zvonareva in straight sets in the quarterfinals. She has twice been to the semifinals of a major, but in only one place: on the grounds of the All England Club in London.

But thanks to the big Stosur win a year ago and her ongoing under-the-radar approach, Kvitova continues to be flying high on the tennis courts Down Under.

“I'm relaxed. I try to be focus[ed] only on the tennis and think of nothing around [me],” she said. “I mean, everybody is talking about the first position. But, you know, many players who can be No.1 after this tournament. So, I mean, it doesn't matter to talk about this right now.”

The 21-year-old is referring to the handful of women – herself included – that could take the No.1 ranking from Caroline Wozniacki at the conclusion of the Australian Open.

Kvitova was spotted earlier in the tournament walking onto the grounds with her bag slung over her shoulder, the could-be world No.1 seemingly unnoticed by the throngs of tennis fans making their way into Melbourne Park. Asked if she thought this was odd, Kvitova said she carries on like anyone else in her day-to-day.

“You have to be as a normal person in the hotel and just lying and reading book, for example.”

While Kvitova maintains a sense of normalcy, the extraordinary in the tennis world are singing her accolades, including her childhood idol and fellow left-hander, Martina Navratilova.

“The book on Petra is power everywhere. She can change the direction of the ball really well on both sides,” Navratilova said. “And her attitude is fantastic. She's really fired up from the get-go ... She's tough. I'm glad I'm not the on the other side of the net.”

Kvitova was on the other end of the phone when Navratilova called to congratulate her last year after the Czech beat Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon final. Navratilova, who is playing in the Legends’ Doubles event here.

“[Petra]’s very fit. She's extremely fit. She had an amazing off season program, and it's paying off,” Navratilova added. “Her footwork is so much better than it was a year ago, and she wants it badly. She's not worried about the ranking. She just wants to be the best tennis player she can be, and that's a great attitude.”

Kvitova is so engrossed with winning rather than watching the ranking shake-up that she hasn’t deflected questions about even dreaming of being No.1 all week long.

“It's all the time that you are asking me,” she said Monday after her win. “I can say something about this when I will No. 1, not now.”

As for now, there is one thing Kvitova is keeping her mind fixed on: playing tennis.