By Nick Georgandis
© Mark Peterson/Corleve


Kim Clijsters might be the new No. 1 player in the world, but it's hard to dispute that Petra Kvitova is the hottest thing going right now on the WTA Tour.

Kvitova won her second tournament title of the young year by blasting Clijsters 6-4, 6-3 to win the Open GDF SUEZ in Paris on Sunday, handing Clijsters only her second loss of the year.

Kvitova, seeded fourth in the field, improved to 16-1 on the year and picked up 470 points for the victory. Idle this time a year ago, Kvitova will add all 470 to her ranking and should move from 18th up to 14th, and only trail No. 13 Maria Sharapova by about 50 points.

This is easily a new high-water mark in the rankings for the young native of the Czech Republic, who does not turn 21 until March 8.

"It doesn't get much better than beating the new No. 1 in the final," Kvitova said. "I thought I played very well. I played my game, fast and aggressive, as I couldn't let her dominate."

Clijsters surrendered 10 aces to Kvitova and dropped to 12-2 on the season.

"I couldn't play my best because she put so much pressure on me," Clijsters said. "If she continues to play like that, she will be Top 10 before long. She is so much fitter and moves better than last year."

Meanwhile in Thailand, Daniela Hantuchova didn't just stop at upsetting Vera Zvonareva in the semifinals, going on to win the Pattaya Open with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win over Sara Errani, 6-0, 6-2.

Hantuchova tripled Errani's number of winners and broke her serve six times to take the match in a mere 76 minutes.