ISTANBUL, Turkey - With a sudden first set comeback Petra Kvitova shut the door on Agnieszka Radwanska's bid to make it to the semifinals of the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, winning in straight sets to finish first in the Red Group and bring Vera Zvonareva into the final four along with her.
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With Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka and Sam Stosur already through, Radwanska had to take a set from Kvitova on Friday to become the fourth player into the final four. And that goal didn't seem far away at all as she stormed out to a 5-1 first set lead - but Kvitova suddenly came alive, her power game hitting its mark as she stormed back to take the opening set comfortably in a tie-break.
"Even when I was 5-1 up, I didn't feel close to winning the set," Radwanska said. "She started to play unbelievable. She was hitting the ball very hard."
Although there were a few close moments midway through the second set - she went to six deuces before holding in a marathon game for 4-3 - Kvitova never really looked in trouble again, eventually finishing the match off with a big crosscourt forehand that drew one last backhand error from Radwanska.
Whether she was winning or losing, Kvitova seemed to be in complete control of the score against Radwanska - she finished the match with 42 winners to 47 unforced errors, while Radwanska had eight winners to 17 unforced errors.
"When I started today I was a bit confused. I didn't know what to do and was surprised Aga was moving so well," Kvitova said in her on-court interview. "Luckily I was able to refocus. And the atmosphere today was unbelievable - the people who came today were great, I hope they can come tomorrow too."
Kvitova finished first in the Red Group with a bullet, 3-0 in win-loss and 6-0 in sets. Although Zvonareva, Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki all ended with a 1-2 win-loss record and 3-5 sets won-lost, Zvonareva had the best games won-lost percentage of the three and thus finished second in the Red Group.
"I didn't expect this, winning all three matches in my group and making it to the semifinals," Kvitova continued. "I hope tomorrow won't be the end."
The semifinals will be Red Group No.1 Kvitova taking on White Group No.2 Sam Stosur, and White Group No.1 Azarenka taking on Red Group No.2 Zvonareva.
Kvitova has beaten Stosur in straight sets in both previous meetings.
Zvonareva leads Azarenka in their career head-to-head series, 6-3.
In the last round robin match of the week on Friday night, Azarenka took on alternate Marion Bartoli, who was replacing an injured Maria Sharapova. The result of the match would have no effect on either group's standings, though.
Read what happened in the Azarenka-Bartoli match by clicking here.
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