Kvitova opens WTA Championships debut with victory over Zvonareva

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Wilson Blade 9

The first match of the Istanbul WTA Championships came to a close and tournament debutante Petra Kvitova routed Vera Zvonareva 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 25 minutes. Zvonareva was a runner-up to Venus Williams at this event in 2008, when it was played in Doha.

From four breaks and 2-2 in the first set of this Red Group clash, the 21-year-old Kvitova took six straight games to win the first and go 2-0 up in the second. Kvitova was soon leading 4-1, but Zvonareva managed to level at 4-4 and distance Kvitova from victory. However, Zvonareva handed Kvitova an easy break and soon after the Czech won.

The Wimbledon champion Kvitova has a chance of ending the year ranked No.1, but that depends both on her and on the outside circumstances. The Czech would have to win the Istanbul title and current world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, last year’s WTA Championships finalist, would have to lose her round-robin matches. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

4 COMMENTS

  1. Wozniaki must loose the next 2 matches for kvitova to be no. 1 and one match at least for Masha to have a chance at no. 1… I was routing for radwanska but she dint take her chances… hope she can do better against zvonareva and kvitova…

  2. Omair, I’m not sure you’re right about the No.1 ranking. Here’s what the Tour says:

    “If Wozniacki plays her first two round robin matches and wins just one of them, then Kvitova is eliminated from the race for year-end No.1.”

    That means that it is enough for Wozniacki to just play one more match and Kvitova does not have a chance at No.1 ranking.

  3. I really thought after Vera made it to 4-4 in the second she would win the set.. Kvitova was sharper than Vera, so she deserved to win imo. Nevertheless I hope Vera would go to semis. Just not such a big fan of the attitude of Kvitova (the screaming after all points are very Williamslike :S)..

    And… what would Na Li/Li Na do this week?! There’s going to be a lot of interesting tennis this week (Like Sam beating Maria!!)

  4. Marija, yup i had misread it. You are right about it. Seems kvitova is also out of the no. 1 spot since wozniaki showed for match against Zvonareva, which is just about to begin.

    I like Zvonareva’s game but she is very inconsistent.

    Wozniaki will end the year as no. 1 since Masha lost her 2nd rubber as well and has very slim chances of getting to the semis. But the group will get interesting when Li takes on stousr and Azarenka… Hope Masha can defeat Azarenka….

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