Kvitova crowns year with WTA awards

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Czech Republic tennis star Petra Kvitova’s astonishing year ended with her being voted by the press the WTA player of the year on Monday.

The 21-year-old - also voted Most Improved Player - won six titles in all including Wimbledon, her first Grand Slam crown, and the end of season WTA championships and also led her country to the Fed Cup trophy at the expense of Russia.

“This season has been simply a dream,” said Kvitova, who rose from 34 in the world at the beginning of the season to second behind Caroline Wozniacki, who unlike the Czech has yet to win a Grand Slam.

“It is an incredible honor to win the Player of the Year award and join the ranks of some of the best players that have ever played the sport, especially Martina Navratilova.

“I will always cherish the 2011 season and look forward to building on it,” she said.

Kvitova’s compatriot Kveta Peschke was named alongside Slovenian playing partner Katarina Srebotnik as doubles team of the year for a season that saw them also triumph at Wimbledon.

Peschke was also pivotal to the Czech Republic’s Fed Cup success as she teamed up with Lucie Hradecka to give the Czechs the decisive point in the 3-2 victory.

Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu won Newcomer of The Year after a breakthrough season that saw her reach two finals - both on clay at Marbella and Budapest - and rise from 214 in the world to 38, eventually finishing it at 40th.

AFP