December 2, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal
An excellent 2014 for Czech Republic tennis got even better on Tuesday as the WTA announced that Petra Kvitova was named the 2014 Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award winner and Lucie Safarova the Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award winner.
Just last month Kvitova and Safarova helped the Czech Republic win its third Fed Cup title in the last four years, and on Tuesday they each became 2014 award winners as well.
Kvitova enjoyed one of the best years of her career, winning three titles including her second title at Wimbledon. It wasn’t her winning that earned her the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award though as the award acknowledges a player’s professionalism, attitude and sense of fair play. Kvitova also won the award back win 2011.
Safarova earned the Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service award because of her support for fellow players through initiatives such as the WTA Players’ Council. She had her best showing at a Grand Slam when she reached the semifinals of Wimbledon before losing to Kvitova.
The awards are voted on by fellow players. The Fan Favorite Awards are still up to be won and fans have until Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 11:59 p.m. EST to cast their votes.
