Kvitova caps eventful season
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Shanghai Daily, November 8, 2011
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The Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka (right) hits a return while Kveta Peschke looks on during their Fed Cup final match against Russia's Elena Vesnina and Maria Kirilenko in Moscow on Sunday. The Czechs clinched the title. |
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has capped a memorable season on the WTA Tour by leading the Czech Republic to its first Fed Cup title as an independent nation.
Kvitova won both of her singles matches at Moscow's Olympic indoor arena at the weekend to help the Czechs clinch a 3-2 victory over favorites Russia.
It was the country's first title since it split from Slovakia in 1993.
Its last triumph came when, playing as Czechoslovakia, it beat the former Soviet Union in the 1988 final.
Russia's Shamil Tarpishchev, one of only three captains to lead his team to both the Davis and Fed Cup titles, was the first to offer his praise for the tall left-hander.
"Kvitova was the key to their success," Tarpishchev said on Sunday, soon after the Czechs sealed their victory, handing the Russians their first defeat on home soil in Fed Cup competition since the 2003 semi-finals. "She was just phenomenal."
While some critics bemoan the lack of strength and depth in the women's game, Kvitova has won herself an army of admirers for playing a free-swinging, risk-taking tennis.
The 21-year-old has been virtually unstoppable in the second part of the season after landing her first major at the All England Club in early July.
She went undefeated indoors for the whole year with 21 victories, also compiling a perfect 6-0 record in Fed Cup competition this season.
Aside from the Fed Cup, the in-form Czech has won two titles, including last week's WTA Championships, in less than a month while making a steady rise in the rankings to end the year as No. 2 in the world.
While she boasts many weapons, such as a booming serve and a powerful forehand, the soft-spoken country girl exhibits great confidence on court as well.
"I'm a team leader which puts extra pressure on me but I'm confident every time I step on the court," Kvitova said on the eve of the Fed Cup final.
After brushing aside 27th-ranked Maria Kirilenko in straight sets in Saturday's opener, Kvitova fought back from 0-3 down in the final set to beat former world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova on Sunday and put her team in the driving seat.
Many predict another splendid season for Kvitova next year, calling for her to challenge world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki for the top spot.
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