ISTANBUL: Czech left-hander Petra Kvitova stormed back from a set down to beat Samantha Stosur 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in a topsy turvy first semifinals at the WTA Championships on Saturday and is now one win away from a dream end to a spectacular season.
The 21-year-old Wimbledon champion, a debutant at the season-ending showpiece featuring the top eight women in the world after beginning the year ranked down in 34th spot, will face either Russia’s Vera Zvonareva or Belarussian Victoria Azarenka in Sunday’s final inside the Sinan Erdem Arena.
Should she win the title and collect the $1.75 million for going through the tournament undefeated she will rise to second in the world rankings and will go into the new year breathing down the neck of number one Caroline Wozniacki.
Left-hander Kvitova broke US Open champion Stosur’s serve in the first game of the match and was in control until her forehand went AWOL and Stosur broke back in the eighth game on her way to snatching the set.
She then survived a scare at the start of the second set when Stosur had a point for a 2-0 lead but once Kvitova regained her rhythm she left the Australian in her wake.
Kvitova broke for a 2-1 lead with a superb crosscourt backhand winner past the net-rushing Stosur and then broke again in the ninth game to level the match.
The Czech raced into a 5-0 lead in the decider and although Stosur hung on grimly to extend the contest by winning the next three games, Kvitova held her nerve to claim victory on her first match point when Stosur netted a high backhand volley. (Agencies)
