Kvitová became the first player to win the event on three occasions as she prevailed 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 in a match which lasted two hours and 52 minutes at the Caja Mágica.

The 28-year-old overtook world number one Simona Halep and Serena Williams, who have both won the tournament twice, on the all-time Madrid Open list.

The triumph came less than a year after she returned to competition after she was stabbed in the hand in a knife attack in December 2016.

"I know I missed this event last year, but it's made it sweeter to be standing with the trophy," said Kvitová.

"I can't wait to be back again next year."

Austrian Dominic Thiem, who ended Spanish clay court king Rafael Nadal's unbeaten run on the surface yesterday, booked his place in the final for the second year in a row with a straight sets victory over South African Kevin Anderson.

The Austrian, seeded fifth, maintained his superb form as he comfortably overcame Anderson 6-4, 6-2.

The result sent another warning to the rest of the men's field prior to the French Open, the second Grand Slam event of the season which begins later this month.

Thiem will face either second seed Alexander Zverev of Germany or Canadian Denis Shapovalov in tomorrow's final.