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 in 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.
Photo: EPA
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, OK, I can say it,” a rather sheepish Kvitova told reporters when asked if 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.
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..
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.
With the Australian Open on the horizon, Kvitova could find herself tipped as favorite for the first Grand Slam of the year, 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, but I’m No. 2 and the next season will be different and I will be actually favorite maybe all the time,” she said when asked about closing the deficit to Wozniacki. “It will be really, really strange for me. It will be something new again.”
While Kvitova remained modest about her achievements this year, those who have found her game too hot to handle have been a little more forthcoming.
US Open champion Samantha Stosur, who Kvitova beat in the semi-finals, spoke in glowing terms about the Czech.
“She’s had a very good year, and I think she’s one of those exciting players to watch because she can pretty much do anything and she’s got a very calm temperament out on the court,” Stosur said after losing to Kvitova.
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