Kvitova lets her racket do the talking
Source: Agencies |
November 1, 2011, Tuesday
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PETRA Kvitova let her racket do the talking when the fast-rising Czech backed up her shock Wimbledon crown by winning the WTA Championships at the first time of asking on Sunday.
The 21-year-old left-hander silenced wailing Belarussian Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 at the Sinan Erdem Dome to scoop the US$1.75 million jackpot and ensure she ended a superb year at No. 2 in the rankings after starting it at 34th.
Few would be surprised if the quietly-spoken country girl does not topple Caroline Wozniacki from the top of the rankings before the Australian Open begins in January.
Not that she was about to start making any big statements, despite claiming her sixth title of the year with another of the free-swinging displays that are winning her an army of new admirers fed up with the baseline grinders.
"After this tournament, okay, I can say it," a rather sheepish Kvitova told reporters when asked is she could be regarded as the player of the year.
Few would disagree after she beat five of the world's top eight players in Istanbul, Turkey.
While the game may have changed drastically since the days when another Czech-born left-hander, Martina Navratilova, used to dominate the major silverware, there are many similarities between the way they play the game.
Like 18-time grand slam singles champion Navratilova used to, Kvitova prefers to dictate matches, attacking incessantly and going for winners. She is also comfortable at the net and when the chips are down, has proved she has the mental toughness to triumph.
The down-side is that she can occasionally take a few too many risks, as she did when blowing a 5-0 lead in the opening set against a player expected to challenge her for grand slam titles in the coming years.
With the Australian Open on the horizon, Kvitova could find herself tipped as favorite for the first grand slam of 2011, by which time she could also have the top ranking.
"I'm not thinking like that. I've had a great tournament and it's huge," she said when asked about closing a slender 115-point deficit to Wozniacki.
"But I'm No. 2 and the next season will be different and I will be actually favorite maybe all the time," she added. "It will be really, really strange for me. It will be something new again."
Kvitova attributed her achievements this year to improvements not only in her game, but also in fitness and mental strength. Staying healthy was key, along with the support of coach David Kotyza and the rest of her team.
"It's hard to lose but I'm glad I lost to such a champion," Azarenka said during the awards ceremony. "I gave it all today."
Azarenka will rise to No. 3, also overtaking Maria Sharapova, who had a chance to surpass Wozniacki as No. 1 going into the tournament, but withdrew with an ankle injury after losing her first two group-stage matches.
Azarenka said she will fly to Belarus for three weeks of vacation. Kvitova has more work ahead, leading the Czech Republic in its first Fed Cup final in more than 20 years, playing Russia in Moscow.
The 21-year-old left-hander silenced wailing Belarussian Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 at the Sinan Erdem Dome to scoop the US$1.75 million jackpot and ensure she ended a superb year at No. 2 in the rankings after starting it at 34th.
Few would be surprised if the quietly-spoken country girl does not topple Caroline Wozniacki from the top of the rankings before the Australian Open begins in January.
Not that she was about to start making any big statements, despite claiming her sixth title of the year with another of the free-swinging displays that are winning her an army of new admirers fed up with the baseline grinders.
"After this tournament, okay, I can say it," a rather sheepish Kvitova told reporters when asked is she could be regarded as the player of the year.
Few would disagree after she beat five of the world's top eight players in Istanbul, Turkey.
While the game may have changed drastically since the days when another Czech-born left-hander, Martina Navratilova, used to dominate the major silverware, there are many similarities between the way they play the game.
Like 18-time grand slam singles champion Navratilova used to, Kvitova prefers to dictate matches, attacking incessantly and going for winners. She is also comfortable at the net and when the chips are down, has proved she has the mental toughness to triumph.
The down-side is that she can occasionally take a few too many risks, as she did when blowing a 5-0 lead in the opening set against a player expected to challenge her for grand slam titles in the coming years.
With the Australian Open on the horizon, Kvitova could find herself tipped as favorite for the first grand slam of 2011, by which time she could also have the top ranking.
"I'm not thinking like that. I've had a great tournament and it's huge," she said when asked about closing a slender 115-point deficit to Wozniacki.
"But I'm No. 2 and the next season will be different and I will be actually favorite maybe all the time," she added. "It will be really, really strange for me. It will be something new again."
Kvitova attributed her achievements this year to improvements not only in her game, but also in fitness and mental strength. Staying healthy was key, along with the support of coach David Kotyza and the rest of her team.
"It's hard to lose but I'm glad I lost to such a champion," Azarenka said during the awards ceremony. "I gave it all today."
Azarenka will rise to No. 3, also overtaking Maria Sharapova, who had a chance to surpass Wozniacki as No. 1 going into the tournament, but withdrew with an ankle injury after losing her first two group-stage matches.
Azarenka said she will fly to Belarus for three weeks of vacation. Kvitova has more work ahead, leading the Czech Republic in its first Fed Cup final in more than 20 years, playing Russia in Moscow.
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