Kvitova suffers shock first round Wimbledon exit

LONDON, July 04 (AFP): Petra Kvitova crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round on Tuesday as the two-time champion was stunned 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 by unheralded Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Kvitova was the bookmakers' favourite for the women's title at the All England Club after an impressive return to form this year.

The 28-year-old Czech had won five titles in 2018, including the grass-court tournament at Birmingham last weekend, while amassing an WTA Tour-leading 38 match victories.

But Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, had insisted before the tournament that she wasn't the top contender after suffering a hamstring problem that forced her to pull out of Eastbourne last week.

That lack of confidence was reflected in the eighth seed's disappointing performance on Court One and world number 50 Sasnovich took full advantage.