Kvitova fends off Azarenka challenge for WTA Championships title
Petra Kvitova crowned her 2011 season with titles at Brisbane, Paris, Madrid, Wimbledon and very recently Linz, and now she's put the icing on the cake (the icing worth $1,750,000) by winning the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships on her tournament debut. Kvitova's opponent in the final, Victoria Azarenka, gave significant resistance and made the final highly entertaining, but it was Kvitova who went all the way to a 7-5 4-6 6-3 victory.
Just when it seemed the first set would finish before it even warmed up, with a desperate look on her face Azarenka won her first game of the match in the sixth game and she didn't stop there. From 1-5, Azarenka broke Kvitova's serve to love two times and leveled to 5-5. Then Kvitova finally held her serve again and in the following game capitalized on her fifth set point.
After an early exchange of breaks, the fighting Azarenka broke Kvitova again in the fifth game of the second set, then solidified the advantage to lead 4-2, before forcing the third set.
In the very beginning of the decider, Azarenka was 40-0 up on Kvitova's serve, but she wasted four break opportunities and soon found herself trailing 0-3. Azarenka was trying her best, she even saved a match point at 5-3, but eventually succumbed to Kvitova for the third time this season.
The 21-year-old Kvitova will now finish the season ranked at a career-high of No.2, while she began 2011 ranked No.34. (photos: Ralf Reinecke)
I don't have any doubt..2011 n1 is Petra Kvitova .. masters, wimbledon, madrid, a small premier and a small tournament.. the same as last year with kim..wta system of points doesn't work very well jajaj
she's the best player of the season
Too bad she scored bad results after Wimbledon, but if she continues like this next year- she'll be no.1 very soon, maybe even after the Australian open.
Agree completely with the above comments. Sadly I couldn't watch as I just cannot stand Azarenka's noise (or Sharapova et al) and don't like watching without crowd noise. Delighted the lady won.
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/i-hate-it-stosurs-camp-want-to-stop-the-screamers-20111027-1mlih.html
It just seemed so "right" that these two were in the final. What a great tournament this was. Now, if only Kvitova can come to terms with the reality that she's The Boss.
hello future numero uno!
Diane, I absolutely agree. They had the best performances in the round-robin phase and then they reached the final which was giving the most justice to the occasion – great and entertaining tennis.
someone saw the difference of points between nole djokovic, atp leader, and caroline wozniacki, wta leader??? is almost the double!!!
Yes I agree with these comments. Its definitely time for a new world Number 1 next year!