KERBER, KVITOVA AND ERRANI QUALIFY FOR TEB BNP PARIBAS WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS-ISTANBUL

Written by: Staff on 4th October 2012

KERBER, KVITOVA AND ERRANI QUALIFY FOR TEB BNP PARIBAS WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS-ISTANBUL

epa03409297 Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns a forehand shots against Petra Martic of Croatia during the first round match of the Pan Pacific Open tennis in Tokyo, Japan, 25 September 2012. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA |

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that Germany’s Angelique Kerber, Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova and Italy’s Sara Errani have qualified for this year’s TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, which will be staged at the Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. The WTA’s year-end finale, to be held from October 23-28, will feature the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams, competing for the coveted title and a share of $4.9 million in prize money.

Kerber, defending champion Kvitova and Errani are the latest players to qualify for the singles competition that will include Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Serena Williams. With seven of the eight players already qualified, four players remain in contention for the final singles berth and two alternate positions: Li Na, Samantha Stosur, Marion Bartoli and Caroline Wozniacki.

“I would like to congratulate Angelique, Petra and Sara on qualifying for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships-Istanbul,” said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman and CEO. “Angelique and Sara have both achieved their career-best seasons, while Petra has solidified her position in the world’s Top 5 and is a proven contender at any tournament. As we approach the final weeks of the season, we still have a number of players locked in an exciting competition for the final singles and doubles places.”

Angelique Kerber:

“This has been the best year of my career,” Kerber commented. “To have the opportunity to play at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships in Istanbul will be an amazing way to end 2012.”

Kerber won her career-first WTA singles title this year at Open GDF Suez (Paris [Indoors]), and added another title at the e-Boks Open (Copenhagen), defeating hometown favorite Wozniacki in the final. The 24-year-old German also advanced to the finals at the AEGON International (Eastbourne) and Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati). She has reached the semifinals or better at 10 events, including her second career Grand Slam semifinal appearance at Wimbledon. Entering the 2012 season, Kerber was winless against Top 10 opponents, but she has now amassed eight such wins and entered Beijing with a WTA-leading 58 match victories.

In August 2011, Kerber was ranked outside the Top 100 when she achieved a breakthrough performance by reaching the semifinals at the US Open, going on to finish the year ranked No.32. Currently ranked a career-best No.6, Kerber became the seventh German woman to reach the WTA’s Top 10 and highest-ranked German since Steffi Graf retired in August 1999. Making her Championships debut, Kerber will be the first German woman to reach the year-end finale since Anke Huber in 2001.

Petra Kvitova:

“I’m so happy to have qualified again for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships,” said Kvitova. “It’s always an honor to defend a title, and to do this at the Championships makes it extra special. 2012 has been a challenging year so to finish among the Top 8 in the world is really rewarding. I had a great time in Istanbul last year and I look forward to returning and trying to play my best tennis for the fans in Turkey.”

Kvitova compiled a 12-1 record leading up to the US Open, yielding titles at the Rogers Cup (Montréal) and New Haven Open at Yale. The Czech also was a five-time semifinalist this year, including at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and achieved three Top 10 wins.

The 22-year-old has been ranked inside the Top 5 for 35 of 40 weeks so far in 2012 and came within two wins of the No.1 ranking at the Apia International Sydney. Kvitova returns to Istanbul having clinched the title last year on her tournament debut. The win capped a memorable 2011 campaign which included winning a WTA-leading six titles, her first career Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and being voted as 2011 WTA Player of the Year.

Sara Errani:

“I’m so proud to be able to represent my country at the Championships in both singles and doubles,” Errani commented. “This has been a wonderful year for me, and to be able to play not only singles, but also doubles in Istanbul with my good friend Roberta Vinci, is a great way to finish the season.”

Errani is enjoying the best year of her career, advancing to her maiden Grand Slam final at Roland Garros, winning four singles and two Grand Slam doubles crowns among her eight doubles titles. Errani became the third Italian woman to break into the Top 10 in the history of the WTA rankings, doing so after reaching the final at Roland Garros with an unprecedented jump into the Top 10 from No.24. She is also currently the world No.1 ranked doubles player, and has qualified for the Championships doubles competition with countrywoman Roberta Vinci.

The 25-year-old advanced to the second week at a Grand Slam for the first time in career in 2012, reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the final at Roland Garros, and the semifinals at the US Open. During the clay court season she posted a 29-4 match record en route to singles titles at Acapulco, Barcelona, Budapest and Palermo. Errani also became the first player since 2009 to complete two singles-doubles sweeps, doing so at Acapulco and Barcelona.

Errani will be the first player to complete in both singles and doubles at a Championships since 2009 (Serena and Venus Williams).