Kvitova wins 1st WTA Championships title

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova won her first WTA Championships title on Sunday by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the final in Istanbul, rising to No. 2 in the world rankings in the process. 

Kvitova raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set, but Azarenka rallied to level it at 5-5. The Czech player finally converted her fifth set point when Azarenka's forehand sailed out. 

Azarenka settled into a consistent baseline game in the second set, and clinched it with a forehand winner on the line. Kvitova saved three break points in the first game of the final set and then broke herself to take the early lead. 

Kvitova started the year outside the top 30 and was playing in the season-ending tournament for the first time.