Australian Open: Petra Kvitova and Leylah Fernandez among those beaten in first round
- Published
Petra Kvitova has not gone beyond the third round of a Grand Slam since the 2020 US Open
Australian Open 2022 |
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Dates: 17-30 January Venue: Melbourne Park |
Coverage: Daily radio commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and app, with selected live text commentaries online; TV highlights from middle Saturday. |
Former finalist Petra Kvitova suffered a "painful" first-round defeat by Sorena Cirstea on the second day of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Czech Kvitova was beaten 6-2 6-2 by Romania's Cirstea in just 72 minutes.
Kvitova, who lost to Cirstea in the second round at last year's tournament, has not gone beyond the third round of a Grand Slam since the 2020 US Open.
US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez also lost on Tuesday, while second seed Aryna Sabalenka fought back to advance.
Kvitova, often a crowd favourite in Melbourne, made 39 unforced errors and hit six double faults against Cirstea.
"This loss is very painful - in the first round after like a whole month [in Australia]," Kvitova said.
"I did have some health issues the whole month as well, so it was tough to practise.
"The season is long, so I hope that it will turn around."
Canadian teenager Fernandez lost 6-2 6-4 to Australian wildcard Maddison Inglis, who was tearful after winning her first match at Melbourne Park.
"I am super stoked, I am shaking," the 24-year-old said.
"I watched a lot of Leylah at the US Open. We were there supporting, watching her singles matches, then I would go and watch her doubles matches. She's such a lovely girl."
Belarusian Sabalenka fought back from a set down to beat Storm Sanders, the Australian world number 128, 5-7 6-3 6-2 and register her first win of the season.
Simona Halep, runner-up in 2018, continued her good form with a 6-4 6-3 win over Poland's Magdalena Frech, while third seed Garbine Muguruza also advanced after beating rising French star Clara Burel 6-3 6-4.
However, 2016 champion Angelique Kerber fell in the first round for the second year in a row as she was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Estonia's Kaia Kanepi.
Australian veteran Sam Stosur, playing in her final singles event, recovered from a set behind to overcome American Robin Anderson 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-3.
Stosur will continue playing doubles until the end of the 2022 season, but said she would retire from singles after being given a wildcard into the Australian Open.
She will face 10th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next after the Russian beat Anna Bondar of Hungary 6-2 6-1.
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