Maria Sharapova believes winning the Wimbledon title can launch a glittering career for Petra Kvitova.
The 21-year-old Czech made her Grand Slam breakthrough in stunning fashion with a nerveless performance to beat former champion Sharapova 6-3, 6-4.
Kvitova became the youngest Wimbledon champion since a 17-year-old Sharapova won the title in 2004, and the first player born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam.
With her triumph, Kvitova jumped to the head of a generation of players that also includes world No1 Caroline Wozniacki and No4 Victoria Azarenka, beaten by the Czech in the semi-finals.
Sharapova expects her to stay there after observing the improvements she has made to her game.
The Russian said: "I think she's a much more powerful hitter, she has bigger strokes, and I would say probably a better serve. She's a Grand Slam champion. She has a tremendous amount of potential to go even further and achieve many great things."
With the frequent absence of the Williams sisters, the retirement of Justine Henin and Sharapova's injury troubles, women's tennis has been crying out for new names. The first signs that Kvitova could break into the elite band came at Wimbledon last year, when she reached the semi-finals.
Kvitova had never won a match on grass before but she beat Azarenka and Wozniacki, and put up a good fight against Serena Williams in the last four.
This season, though, it has been a different story. Kvitova has won four titles, reached two more finals and made at least the fourth round at all the Grand Slams.
