TOKYO: Czech Petra Kvitova recovered from a second-set meltdown to beat fellow left-hander Angelique Kerber 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 and capture the Pan Pacific Open on Saturday for her second title of the year.

Seventh seed Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, burst from the blocks in the Tokyo final, storming through the first set, but inexplicably suffered the dreaded 0-6 ‘bagel’ in the second.

She quickly rediscovered her poise in the decider, screaming in delight and pumping her fist as she put away a sharp volley to take a 4-0 lead.

The 23-year-old put fifth seed Kerber out of her misery on her fourth match point, a blistering crosscourt forehand ending the German’s resistance after an hour and 39 minutes and giving Kvitova an 11th career singles title.

It was Kvitova’s first title since Dubai in February and winning the premier five events earned her $426,000. Kerber, who had been seeking a third title and first of the year, took home $213,000.

“It’s tough to answer why I play so many three-set matches,” Kvitova said after leveling her head-to-head record with Kerber to 2-2. “I’ve still not figured out why. I played two and a half hours yesterday (in beating Venus Williams) but that’s not the reason. My game is still up and down but I keep fighting until the last point.” Kvitova voiced confidence she could push on and win another grand slam title in 2014.

Berdych in Thailand Open semis

In Bangkok, World No. 6 Tomas Berdych battled his way into the semi-finals of the Thailand Open Friday, slamming 20 aces in a hard-fought victory over Lu Yen-Hsun.

The top seed was made to sweat for his 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 win against his Taiwanese rival, who has lost all 10 of his career quarterfinals.

Top seed Berdych needed a string of aces to claim his victory in just over one and three-quarter hours, coming back from a break down in the opening set.

He only lost serve once while breaking his opponent three times.

Berdych last won a trophy in October in Stockholm and remains the only member of the ATP top 10 without a 2013 win.

He now faces world No. 14 Gilles Simon, who overcame a back injury and jet lag to struggle past Dutchman Igor Sijsling.

The Frenchman, seeded fourth and winner of the Bangkok event in 2009, called for the trainer after the opening game of the final set, but recovered to take the match 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

In the day’s other quarterfinal matches, French defending champion Richard Gasquet staged a fightback to overcome Russian fifth seed Mikhail Youzhny 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 with six breaks of his opponent.

In the last four he will take on Canadian third seed Milos Raonic, who fired 19 aces in a 58-minute rout of Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-3.

Sousa stuns top seed Ferrer

In Kuala Lumpur, unseeded Portuguese player Joao Sousa clinched his first ever victory over a top five player when he defeated top seed David Ferrer in the quarterfinals of the Malaysian Open on Friday.

Sousa, given special exemption from the organizers to skip the qualifying rounds after reaching the semifinals in St. Petersburg last weekend, justified their faith in him by beating Ferrer 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in 98 minutes.

The 24-year-old was denied a match point opportunity when he served for victory at 5-4 in the second set, before rallying from a 4-6 deficit in the tie-break.

A dejected Ferrer said he hopes to bounce back at next week’s China Open.

Ferrer, who was making his fourth appearance in this tournament, has never gone beyond the semifinals in Kuala Lumpur.

He was knocked out in the first round in 2009 and reached the semis in 2010. He was also a quarterfinalist last year.

The result leaves Swiss world No. 10 Stanislas Wawrinka as the favorite to lift the title after he edged out Dmitry Tursunov in a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win.

Austrian Melzer came away with a routine 6-3, 6-2 victory over Argentine Federico Delbonis while Benneteau outplayed 25-year-old French compatriot Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3.

Melzer, 32, paid tribute to his younger brother Gerald, who gave him tips on an opponent he was meeting for the first time.