Samantha Stosur's promising US Open build-up has come to a shuddering halt at the hands of rampant Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Kvitova continued her dominance of Stosur with a 6-3 6-1 semi-final victory at the Connecticut Open on Friday.
After ousting Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard en route to her first semi-final of the season, Stosur was no match for the All England Club champion, succumbing in just 73 minutes.
Kvitova blasted 26 winners to Stosur's seven, including seven aces, and broke the Australian's serve four times to march into the final for the third straight year in New Haven.
The big-hitting Czech felt she had to be at her best to stop Stosur after taking note of the former US Open champion's improved form in recent weeks.
"I saw her match against Serena (Williams) in Cincinnati (last week) - it was very tough and very close - so I knew she was playing well," Kvitova said.
"I don't really look at the numbers but I knew I had to play well today. I just tried to play as beautiful a match as I could, and I'm happy I could play well against her tonight."
Kvitova has now won 11 of her past 12 matches at the Connecticut Open, claiming the title in 2012 and losing the 2013 final to Simona Halep before continuing her liking for the fast hard court this year.
The world No.4 will play Magdalena Rybarikova for the title after the Slovak reached her maiden WTA final with a 6-2 6-4 win over Italian Camila Giorgi.
Despite her sixth defeat from seven clashes with Kvitova, Stosur will head to New York for the final major of the year optimistic about her prospects.
The 2011 US Open champion hadn't won back-to-back matches since May until reeling off three in a row this week.
Seeded 24th this year, Stosur launches her Open campaign against American Lauren Davis.
If she wins, the Queenslander will play either Estonian Kaia Kanepi or Frenchwoman Paula Parmienter in the second round.
Stosur is projected to meet Spanish 15th seed Carla Suarez Navarro in round three and world No.1 and defending champion Serena Williams for a place in the quarter-finals.
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