Czech Kvitova takes first WTA trophy

HOBART, Australia, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Eighteen-year-old Czech Petra Kvitova won her first WTA championship Friday, topping countrywoman Iveta Benesova in Australia's Hobart International.

Kvitova won 7-5, 6-1 and said she was looking forward to playing in the Australian Open, starting Monday in Melbourne.

"I'm very, very happy," Kvitova said. "It has been a good week for me. Now I'm hoping to do well in Melbourne, too."

Her first-round opponent in the open will be Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Benesova is 1-6 in WTA finals. Her first opponent in the open will be Vera Dushevina of Russia.