Off the wire
• Feature: Funeral held in absentia highlights "enforced disappearance" issue in Kashmir  • Cricket Australia names surprise selection for Test squad to face New Zealand  • EU organization advocates cutting-edge research in Davos  • Central African states to spend 670 mln USD on infrastructure projects  • 2nd LD Writethru: China, GCC vow to reach comprehensive FTA within 2016  • 12 agreements signed between Chinese and Egyptian companies  • Feature: Deep beneath trendy streets of London, women carve out future rail network  • China central bank injects 23 billion USD funds via SLO  • Major news items in leading German newspapers  • Feature: Change in Taliban mindset sees Internet used as propaganda machine  
You are here: 　 Home

(Sports)Petra Kvitova latest women seed to be upset at Australian Open

Xinhua, January 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sixth seed Petra Kvitova has joined fellow top seeds Simona Halep and Venus Williams as early casualties at the Australian Open, after she was bundled out by Australia's Daria Gavrilova on Wednesday evening.

Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, was no match for the ferocious Gavrilova, who won the match 6-4, 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena in front of thousands of Australian fans.

The world No. 7 had been battling illness in the lead-up to the first Grand Slam of the year, Kvitova pulled out of her appearance at a tournament in Shenzen earlier this month in order to feel better for the Open.

Despite looking promising in her first-round match, Kvitova hit 35 unforced errors to her opponent's 20 on the way to the shock loss.

Gavrilova, in her first Grand Slam since becoming an Australian citizen, said she was overwhelmed towards the end of the match.

"I was so nervous at the end," the Australian said, "I'm just really proud (of myself)."

"In the end, I told myself 'I'm down 5-3...I have to stay in the match' and it helped. Reverse Psychology."

Gavrilova, ranked 39th in the world, will play 28th seed Kristina Mladenovic in the third round on Friday. Endit