In a straight-sets result that was far closer than the scoreline indicated, Kenin received high marks for pinging the high notes when she needed to - she saved 10 of 12 break points, including four during a line-in-the-sand sixth game of the second set, which allowed her to consolidate for a 4-2 lead.
She saved another break point while serving out the match, and later admitted she was down on herself after surrendering the break in the 10th game, which drew Kvitova level in the set.
“I just kept telling myself to keep fighting,” Kenin said. “I obviously expected her to play better. Yes, I went down on myself, but I just told myself to keep playing.”
Kenin in full-flight can be a tough nut to crack, even for a tour de force such as Kvitova. The 21-year-old demonstrates court craft, angles, touch and finesse beyond her years, and she has grown to love the grinding game required on the terre battue.
On Thursday, she forced Kvitova to go for the lines repeatedly, and scrapped to lengthen rallies to lure the Czech into physical points. It was a strategy which paid dividends and ultimately proved the difference.