Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova won a three-set thriller against Victoria Azarenka to win the WTA Championships and move up to second in the world rankings.
Kvitova, who is 5/2 with bookmaker to retain her Wimbledon title in 2012, had seemed on course for a straightforward win after taking a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Azarenka recovered and made her opponent work for the opener, which the Czech eventually took 7-5. Azarenka went on to win the second 6-4 but Kvitova roared back to take the third 6-3 and lift the title.
The 21-year-old moved ahead of Maria Sharapova, who was forced to pull out of the event due to injury, in the world rankings and is pleased with her year’s work.
“When I started this season we didn’t have a goal,” said Kvitova.
“We just wanted to improve my game and now I am number two and Wimbledon champion. It is just a dream.”