Kvitova outlasts Kerber in epic marathon at Wuhan Open (updated)

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.

"It's always tough to play against Petra," said Kerber, who was facing Kvitova for the tenth time in her career. "I think we both played on a really high level over three hours."

"At the end I think there's no loser. I did everything today. I was fighting until the end."

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, to face either Agnieszka Radwanska or Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinal.

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