Russia’s Vera Zvonareva will progress to the semi-finals of the WTA Championships in Istanbul, thanks to Petra Kvitova’s straight-set win over Agniezska Radwanska.
Both women had plenty of supporters in the crowd, but Radwanska had a semi-final berth on the line while Kvitova was already through.
Despite trailing 5-1, the surging Czech made all the right strokes to close out the first set 7-6.
The left-handed Kvitova continued to hammer shots home in the second, eventually improving her record to three straight wins in Turkey, 7-6, 6-3.
“I didn’t expect this, winning all three matches in my group and making it to the semi-finals,” Kvitova told the WTA Championship’s official website. “I hope tomorrow won’t be the end.”
The result saw Vera Zvonareva progressing into the semi-finals of the end-of-season tournament, ahead of Radwanska and World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in the Red Group.
Belarusian Viktoria Azarenka is the Russian’s next challenge later on Saturday, while Kvitova takes on Samantha Stosur of Australia for a place in the final.