Oz ’14: How to beat Kvitova, by Luksika Kumkhum

When you’re about to face a really big server (and this isn’t an everyday occurrence on the WTA Tour), you have to react accordingly.

And so Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum went to Plan X.

First, she lined up a pal.

Then, she had her stand well into the court, and serve from there, so Kumkhum could get some timing on the bombs Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic was likely to send her way.

Whether that was the little thing that made the difference in the end, who knows. But it worked; Kumkhum came out of virtually nowhere to upset Kvitova in the first round of the Australian Open, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4

Kumkhum’s percentages on her own serve were 72% and 51%; Kvitova’s were 62% and, oops, 38%.

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