Young Czech Petra Kvitova will rise to a career high No. 14 after winning her first WTA Premier title at the Paris Indoors with a 6-4 6-3 defeat of new No. 1 Kim Clijsters. The 20-year-old Kvitova credited her improved fitness for her ability to win the event, during which she contested two marathon three-set matches.
It was only Clijsters’ third loss in her past 30 matches, and gives No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki a chance to grab the top spot back from the Belgian if she reaches the semifinals of Dubai next week.
Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy won their first doubles title together with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Vera Dushevina and Ekaterina Makarova.—Matthew Cronin