Petra Kvitova opened the defence of her Nature Valley Classic with a tough two-set victory over British No.1 Johanna Konta in a high quality contest which enthralled the Ann Jones centre court on Tuesday.
In a match that might have been a final at a lesser tournament, Kvitova used all the grass-court prowess that has won her two Wimbledon titles and the Maud Watson Trophy, edging out Konta with a 6-3 6-4 win. Rather than being downcast, Konta said she took positives from both her level of play and the experience and match toughness gained from taking on one of this season’s most in-form players on arguably Kvitova’s favourite surface.
“I’m a firm believer in that you play certain people at certain times for a reason. I’m very happy that I had this match today. I would have liked to have won this match today and had another one here. But I’m very happy that I got to play someone like her in the lead-up to a tournament like Wimbledon,” said Konta.
“I think she’s one of the best players in the world right now. Going out there today, I knew I was going to be playing an in-form Petra. I think for 90% of the match I was actually quite shoulder to shoulder with her, which was a very positive thing for me. I think that that 10% is what I’m working on right now, to be able to do just that bit better and to come through in some of those close moments.”
Kvitova was joined in the second round by reigning Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza, who looked confident and comfortable in defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in what was Muguruza’s first match on grass since her victory at SW19 almost twelve months ago.
Last week’s Nature Valley Open Nottingham champion Ashleigh Barty, who was runner-up to Kvitova in Birmingham last year, continued her winning run of form with a 6-4 6-3 win over qualifier Oceane Dodin. Fifth seed Julia Goerges and second seed Elina Svitolina opened their accounts with victories to move into the last 16.
Wednesday looks set to be another busy day for ticket-holders at the Edgbaston Priory Club, with Kristina Mladenovic and Birmingham champion Magdalena Rybarikova in action first up on the Ann Jones centre court before Japanese star Naomi Osaka takes on qualifier Dalila Jakupovic.
Svitolina is back in action, this time against Alizé Cornet, before Petra Martic and Mihaela Buzarnescu round off Wednesday’s showcourt matches.
NATURE VALLEY CLASSIC – BIRMINGHAM – BIRMINGHAM, UK
$871,028
JUNE 18 – 24, 2018
RESULTS – JUNE 19, 2018
Singles – First Round
[1] G. Muguruza (ESP) d A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 61 62
[2] [WC] E. Svitolina (UKR) d D. Vekic (CRO) 61 36 61
[4] P. Kvitova (CZE) d J. Konta (GBR) 63 64
[5] J. Goerges (GER) d M. Sakkari (GRE) 64 64
[6] D. Kasatkina (RUS) d [Q] Kr. Pliskova (CZE) 36 75 64
[Q] D. Jakupovic (SLO) d [7] E. Mertens (BEL) 36 76(7) 61
P. Martic (CRO) d [8] C. Vandeweghe (USA) 63 62
B. Strycova (CZE) d [Q] J. Brady (USA) 36 75 63
L. Tsurenko (UKR) d [WC] H. Watson (GBR) 76(2) 75
A. Barty (AUS) d [Q] O. Dodin (FRA) 64 63
M. Buzarnescu (ROU) d T. Babos (HUN) 63 46 60
A. Cornet (FRA) d E. Makarova (RUS) 57 64 61
Doubles – First Round
V. King (USA) / K. Srebotnik (SLO) d [WC] E. Bouchard (CAN) / D. Cibulkova (SVK) 26 62 10-8
ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018
ANN JONES CENTRE COURT start 11:30 am
M. Rybarikova (SVK) vs K. Mladenovic (FRA)
N. Osaka (JPN) vs [Q] D. Jakupovic (SLO)
A. Cornet (FRA) vs [2] [WC] E. Svitolina (UKR)
P. Martic (CRO) vs M. Buzarnescu (ROU)
COURT 1 start 11:30 am
H. Chan (TPE) / Z. Yang (CHN) vs [3] L. Chan (TPE) / G. Dabrowski (CAN)
L. Kichenok (UKR) / A. Kudryavtseva (RUS) vs [WC] K. Boulter (GBR) / H. Watson (GBR)
N. Melichar (USA) / K. Peschke (CZE) vs D. Kasatkina (RUS) / G. Muguruza (ESP)
[4] B. Krejcikova (CZE) / K. Siniakova (CZE) vs J. Goerges (GER) / Ka. Pliskova (CZE)
Not Before 5:00 pm
S. Aoyama (JPN) / R. Olaru (ROU) vs E. Mertens (BEL) / D. Schuurs (NED)
This year’s Nature Valley Classic will be live on British Eurosport from 11.30am – 19.30pm daily.
For more information on this year’s Nature Valley Classic and our other British Tennis events, please visit www.lta.org.uk/major-events. Limited tickets are still available to the Nature Valley Classic (16-24 June) and can be purchased online via www.theticketfactory.com/ltac/online/, by phone on 0844 581 4995 or from the box office onsite at the Edgbaston Priory Club
Don’t miss out on your ticket to summer! Catch world-class players in action at one of the British Tennis events, formed of the Nature Valley Open, Nature Valley Classic, Nature Valley International, Fever-Tree Championships and Fuzion 100 Trophy Series. Secure your seat as tickets are selling fast. Book now at www.lta.org.uk/major-events
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