Petra Kvitova progresses to semi-finals in Birmingham as she continues comeback

Petra Kvitova secured the best win of her comeback so far, beating Kristina Mladenovic to reach the semi-finals of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.

The Czech was playing her fifth match since returning from the horrific stabbing she suffered at her home in Prostejov six months ago.

Kvitova’s left hand is still not fully recovered but she has shown very encouraging form since returning at the French Open and defeated world number 12 Mladenovic 6-4 7-6 (7/5).

For much of this match, Kvitova was dominant, showing off her grass-court nous as a two-time Wimbledon champion.

Things became complicated late in the second set when Kvitova was broken serving for the match and taken to a tie-break. That was close, too, but the seventh seed got a stroke of well-deserved luck when a forehand dribbled off the top of the net on the final point.

Kvitova will next play her fellow Czech Lucie Safarova, who survived a three-hour ordeal against Daria Gavrilova. Having saved match points in her opening-round win over Dominika Cibulkova, Safarova did the same again against Gavrilova.

It was the tenacious Australian who saved five set points on her way to winning the opener before Safarova hit back. Gavrilova served for the match in the decider but Safarova forced a tie-break and won 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 7-6 (7/5).

“I don’t enjoy going from match point down, but it’s been just happening lately,” the world number 41 said with a smile.

Safarova is yet to win in nine meetings with Kvitova, but is delighted to see her countrywoman back.

“It’s amazing how she’s coming back, and after what happened, how quickly she was able to return to play competition,” said Safarova. “And she’s been playing great on grass, and obviously we’ve had a lot of matches against each other, and I’m still waiting for a victory. But, for me, so far, great rounds on grass courts.”

The other semi-final will be between former French Open champion Garbine Muguruza and Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, who both benefited from retirements.

Muguruza had just levelled at one set all with Coco Vandeweghe when the American called it a day because of a foot problem.

Vandeweghe, who lost just four games against Johanna Konta in the second round, had been struggling with the issue since the first round. The world number 30 is a dark horse for Wimbledon and is now set to pull out of next week’s Aegon International in Eastbourne.

She said: “I think any injury is a cause for concern but, once I get the exact information, I can make a decision as far as rehab and being as prepared as possible for Wimbledon.”

Barty was leading qualifier Camila Giorgi 5-2 when the Italian pulled the plug.