Petra Kvitova overcame a poor start to win the season-ending WTA Elite Trophy with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Elina Svitolina here Sunday. Kvitova began slowly and trailed 4-1 in the opening set after struggling to hold serve and making a string of unforced errors. The big-hitting Czech, however, eventually found her range with her first serve and cranked up the aggression to win the next five games in quick succession and wrap up the opening set. Kvitova carried her momentum into the second, sweeping aside her Ukrainian opponent to secure victory in one hour and 10 minutes. "She played a little bit more aggressively than me in the beginning of the match. So I was trying to get the rhythm to play a little bit more aggressively," Kvitova told reporters, after wrapping up a sixth straight win over Svitolina. The WTA Elite Trophy is a year-end event involving the 12 highest ranked women who did not qualify to play at the WTA Finals in Singapore last week. Kvitova, who has never been higher than two in the world rankings, said she had been inspired by Angelique Kerber's rise to the top, and also congratulated newly-crowned men's No. 1 Andy Murray. "The No. 1 spot is still missing in my career. I know how difficult it is. We just saw how Angie did it. It's a great thing to have for sure," the twice Wimbledon champion said. "I told him (Murray) congratulations because I think it's a great achievement. I think he did everything he possibly could to be there, so I'm really happy for him." Murray's rise amazing: Navratilova Scotsman Andy Murray's achievement in becoming men's tennis world No. 1 is exceptional women's tennis legend Martina Navratilova told the BBC Sunday. Murray, 29, moved to the top of the rankings for the first time in his career after replacing long-time incumbent Novak Djokovic when Milos Raonic pulled out of their semifinal in Paris Saturday. The Scot's climb to the ATP rankings' summit — the first Briton to do so since computerized rankings came in in 1973 — caps a remarkable year which has seen him win a second Wimbledon crown and mount a successful defense of his Olympic title in Rio. "Since Roger Federer became No. 1 it's been him, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings," Navratilova told BBC Radio. "It's some pretty rarefied air to get into as it's been a pretty exclusive club for some time. "To get to No. 1 is an exceptional thing, it's an amazing accomplishment. "The fact it came this late in his playing career shows how determined and focused he is," she added. Navratilova, who spent 332 weeks atop the women's standings and accrued 18 Grand Slam singles titles, said Murray had shown real character to battle his way to the top ranking. "To keep going and going and thinking I can improve is testament to his character," the 60-year-old said. — Agencies
