Since the start of this year's WTA Championships, there were two players that stood out. The utterly aggressive duo of Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova cruised through the Istanbul field in imperious form. Consequently, the pair is set to take court today to battle it out for the Season's Ending trophy, as well as for the world number 2 spot.
The Belorussian reigned supreme in the White Group, where she thrashed the French Open winner Na Li, as well as the US Open champion, Samantha Stosur, with the same scoreline 6-2,6-2. Having won her first two matches she was guaranteed a semifinal spot as the group's leader, independent on her result against tournament alternative Marion Bartoli (who replaced an injured Maria Sharapova). Lacking motivation and focus, Azarenka looked out of sorts and distracted throughout the encounter, allowing her opponent a first on court win in 9 matches (i.e. Marion's other 'win' came via retirement). She regrouped in time for her semifinal clash though, stepping it up again when it mattered most to beat Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2,6-3. This result is a clear indication of her tremendous growth, both physically and mentally. Being able to recover after a bad day at the office and managing to found her range against a tricky player like Vera is a great achievement. Entering the final though, she doesn't have the odds on her side. Her head-to-head record over Kvitova is not great, as she succumbed in their last three meetings. Nevertheless, she is surely up for a fierce battle. It would take her utmost best to overcome the Czech, but if she can reproduce the kind of tennis she displayed during the second set against Serena at the US Open, Vika might very well be in for the most important success of her career.
Petra on the other side is again playing sensational tennis. After her Wimbledon triumph she took the foot off the gas, losing in early rounds at various events she entered. Since her win in Linz though, she appears to have got back on track and her strong performance this week is a pure reflection of this. She won all three round robin matches, topping the Red Group with defeats over Vera Zvonareva, Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska. The first set against the Pole is probably the best indication of what she is capable of doing. Being down 1-5, Kvitova fought her way back to win the set 7-5 as a stunned Radwanska found no solution to her opponent's surreal shots. Although less major in magnitude, her comeback during her semifinal match with Sam Stosur was equally impressive. Having lost a topsy-turvy first set, the Czech came back firing to beat the Aussie 5-7,6-3,6-3. She is now the first player since Sharapova in 2004, who qualifies for the final at her WTA Championships debut. The stakes are high for Petra. Besides the prestige, the acknowledgement and the no.2 ranking, she is after the $1.75 million jackpot awarded to the player who leaves Istanbul undefeated. And judging by how well she is playing, it looks like it's all up to her. Even though I want Azarenka to win, I must admit that Kvitova's best tops Vika's best. While the latter must do wonders, Petra needs to put in a solid performance and the title is hers.
photos: AP
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