Kvitova wins Sydney title

Sydney - Petra Kvitova completed her preparations for an assault on a third grand slam title in triumphant style on Friday by downing fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova 7-6 7-6 to win the Sydney International title.

The twice Wimbledon champion was broken in the opening game of the first set but got back on level terms for 5-5 with a superb backhand pass before winning the tiebreak 7-6 when Pliskova went long.

World number four Kvitova made much heavier work of the second set but dug deep to claim her 15th career title with a 8-6 victory in the second tiebreak after one hour and 51 minutes.

Earlier, Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin beat fifth seeded Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-4 6-4 to set up a men's final against fellow qualifier Viktor Troicki, who thrashed Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-2 6-4 in the second semi-final.