Serena beaten by Kvitova in second round in Cincinnati
Aug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams (USA) reacts against Petra Kvitova (CZE) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
(Reuters) - Serena Williams was beaten 6-3 2-6 6-3 by Petra Kvitova in a thrilling second-round match at the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday, ending the American's bid for a third title at the event.
Williams looked rusty in the first set, struggling to handle the Czech's booming left-handed serve and never created a break-point opportunity.
But the 23-times grand slam champion dug deep in the second, thumping serves and blasting returns to the delight of the supportive crowd under the lights.
Aug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams (USA) returns a shot against Petra Kvitova (CZE) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Williams appeared to be in command when she broke Kvitova to start the deciding third set but the two-time Wimbledon champion elevated her service game and was defensively resolute to set up a third-round clash with Kristina Mladenovic.
For former world number one Williams, the loss is another setback as she attempts to get back to the top ranking after a difficult childbirth last year.
France's Mladenovic had earlier defeated qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova 6-3 6-0, while her sixth seeded compatriot Caroline Garcia defeated fellow power hitter Victoria Azarenka 6-4 7-5 to advance to the third round.
Aug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Petra Kvitova (CZE) returns a shot against Serena Williams (USA) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Former world number one Azarenka, who on Tuesday was given a wildcard for the U.S. Open, never found her stride and committed her fifth double fault on match point to hand Garcia the win.
Big-serving Czech Karolina Pliskova fired an ace on match point to dispatch Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-3 in their first-round match.
Pliskova had never won a set against Radwanska in seven prior meetings but cruised to the win over the 29-year-old Pole, who is working her way back from injuries.
Aug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams (USA) returns a shot against Petra Kvitova (CZE) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Greece's Maria Sakkari edged 20-year-old Naomi Osaka in a closely contested second-set tiebreak to dispatch the Japanese 6-3 7-6(8) in their first-round match.
Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens cracked eight aces and won 90 percent of her first serves as she strolled to a 6-2 6-0 win over American Coco Vandeweghe.
Fifth seed Elina Svitolina outlasted Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6(1) 4-6 6-4 in their second-round clash.
Aug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Petra Kvitova (left) shakes hands with Serena Williams (right) after defeating her in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
Aug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams (USA) reacts against Petra Kvitova (CZE) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsAug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Petra Kvitova (CZE) returns a shot against Serena Williams (USA) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsAug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Petra Kvitova (CZE) returns a shot against Serena Williams (USA) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsAug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams (USA) acknowledges the crowd after being defeated by Petra Kvitova (CZE) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsAug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Petra Kvitova (CZE) reacts to defeating Serena Williams (USA) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsAug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Petra Kvitova (CZE) returns a shot against Serena Williams (USA) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsAug 14, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams (USA) returns a shot against Petra Kvitova (CZE) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsAug 13, 2018; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams (USA) returns a shot against Daria Gavrilova (AUS) in the Western and Southern tennis open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
