Right Or Wrong? Kvitova Bumps No. 1 Wozniacki For WTA Player Of Year Award
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The WTA announced its 2011 year-end awards and the big winner was Petra Kvitova. The young Czech walked away with three awards including Player of the Year, beating out world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki for the honor.
The second ranked Kvitova finished with six WTA titles including Wimbledon and the year-end WTA championships.
“This season has been simply a dream,” Kvitova said. “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.”
The award often goes to the No. 1 player but Wozniacki failed to reach a Grand Slam final opening the door for the lefty to take the honor.
Kvitova was also named Most Improved Player and she won the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award.
The top ranked doubles pairing of Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik won Doubles Team Of The Year.
Irina-Camelia Begu grabbed Newcomer Of The Year honors after a breakthrough season that saw her rise from No. 214 to No. 38.
Big serving Sabine Lisicki won Comeback Player Of The Year honors. The German won two titles and was a semifinalist at Wimbledon.
Likable Italian Francesca Schiavone won the Player Service Award, which recognizes the player who has done the most to support her fellow players through the WTA Players’ Council and other initiatives.
In the fan vote, Agnieszka Radwanska won Favorite Singles Player. Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko won Favorite Doubles Team and Kvitova was named Breakthrough player.
The WTA players also voted on Tournaments Of The Year, with the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart retaining its crown as favorite Premier event. The Abierto Mexicano TELCEL in Acapulco was named favorite International event.
The winners of the annual player awards for Player of the Year, Doubles Team of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year are determined by the global tennis media, with WTA players themselves selecting Tournaments Of The Year, Sportsmanship and Player Service awards.
PLAYER AWARDS (media vote)
Player Of The Year: Petra Kvitova
Doubles Team Of The Year: Kveta Peschke & Katarina Srebotnik
Comeback Player Of The Year: Sabine Lisicki
Most Improved Player Of The Year: Petra Kvitova
Newcomer Of The Year: Irina-Camelia Begu
PLAYER AWARDS (player vote)
Player Service: Francesca Schiavone
Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship: Petra Kvitova
Favorite Premier Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart)
Favorite International Tournament: Abierto Mexicano TELCEL (Acapulco)
FAN FAVORITES (public vote)
Fan Favorite Singles Player: Agnieszka Radwanska
Fan Favorite Doubles Team: Victoria Azarenka & Maria Kirilenko
Fan Favorite Breakthrough Player: Petra Kvitova
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