Kvitova outlasts Kerber in epic marathon battle at Wuhan Open

Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova handed Angelique Kerber her first defeat since becoming the world No.1 after prevailing in a marathon third-round encounter at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday.

The Czech closed out a 6-7 (10), 7-5, 6-4 win on her seventh match point over the German after three hours and 20 minutes.

14th-seeded Kvitova, the 2014 tournament champion, will next play 11th-seeded Johanna Konta, who reached the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year here after ousting No. 7 seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, 7-5, 7-6(6).

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded ninth, put an end to Venus Williams' title defense as she eased past the American veteran 6-2, 6-2, facing either Agnieszka Radwanska or Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals.

No.4 seed Simona Halep moved smoothly into the last eight after a straight set win over Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-3.

The Romanian will meet America's Madison Keys, No. 8 seed, who dispatched Daria Kasatkina of Russia 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Endit