Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova defeated sixth-seed Zvonareva 6-2, 6-4. Kvitova was making her first appearance at the season-ending tournament in Istanbul for the top eight players.
It was tied four-all in the second, after Kvitova wasted a 4-1 lead, before she broke her opponent again to wrap up the win.
The victory gave the Czech player an early lead in the Red Group, which also includes top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the other match.
Meanwhile, Russia’s other representative in Turkey, Sharapova, lost to US Open champion Samantha Stosur 6-1, 7-5. The White Group also includes Belarus star Victoria Azarenka and China’s Li Na.
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
