'Tough to watch': Petra Kvitova in 'awful' scenes at Australian Open
Tennis fans were left gutted on Tuesday when veteran favourite Petra Kvitova crashed out of the Australian Open in the first round.
The Czech 20th seed, a finalist in Melbourne in 2019, was blown away 6-2 6-2 by Romanian Sorana Cirstea on John Cain Arena.
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The former Wimbledon champion produced a staggering 39 unforced errors with just seven winners, bowing out in 71 minutes.
It continued a mixed record at Melbourne Park for the two-time Wimbledon winner.
Kvitova has now bowed out of a grand slam in the first round 11 times – with four of those coming at the Australian Open.
The 31-year-old Cirstea also beat Kvitova at the Australian Open last year in the second round.
"Sorana likes my game," Kvitova admitted after the match.
"She just goes for it and feels comfortable. She enjoys my pace.
"It's tough for her when she faces defensive players. My game is still there. I need matches".
Fans and commentators felt for Kvitova after the 'awful' drubbing.
"Just really tough to watch Petra Kvitova at the moment," tweeted French journalist Tumaini Carayol.
"Even when she is just trying to put the ball in court, her shots are flying 4ft beyond the baseline."
Petra Kvitova’s tough form continues as she loses 6-2 6-2 to Sorana Cirstea in the first round. Low energy, struggling to put the ball in play by the end. 39 UEs.
Kvitova is now 11-11 since Wimbledon and her slam results since the beginning of 2021: 2R, 2R, 1R, 3R, 1R pic.twitter.com/yAWSFffEpo— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) January 18, 2022
Just really tough to watch Petra Kvitova at the moment. Even when she is just trying to put the ball in court, her shots are flying 4ft beyond the baseline.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) January 18, 2022
Sorana Cirstea beats Petra Kvitova for a 2nd consecutive year at the #AusOpen.
It was a beatdown this time: 6-2, 6-2 to reach the 2nd round.
She was great and Petra was... not good.
[getty] pic.twitter.com/zKKNgRrc81— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 18, 2022
Well that was abjectly awful from Petra Kvitova and the worst thing - quite predictable. Could hardly hit the court today, feet not moving. Very sad to see her play so poorly 🙁🙁🙁🙁
— Kvittycat (@kvittycat53) January 18, 2022
It’s sad to see Kvitova go 😩. But there were so many unforced errors made from her and Cirstea just had the answer to win those long rally’s and didn’t give Kvitova much of a chance to get back into it. This defeat will hurt.
— Westie Man (@ManWestie) January 18, 2022
Oh Petra 😔 not been in the greatest form since being here! But kudos to Sorana on the Win 👏💪
— JoJo💋🌹 (@JojosTweety) January 18, 2022
WOW!!!! Did Petra even show up???
— Jovan (@Jovan333) January 18, 2022
Garbina Muguruza cruises into second round
There were no such issues for Garbine Muguruza on Tuesday as the Spaniard stretched her Australian Open round one win streak to 10 by comfortably getting past Clara Burel.
The World No.3 has never lost in the opening round at Melbourne Park and in 2020 carried that form right through to the final before she fell to American Sofia Kenin.
Two-time grand slam winner overpowered World No.77 Burel 6-3 6-4 to underline her credentials as an Open heavyweight.
She was a quarter-finalist in 2017 while last year she lost in three sets to eventual champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round.
Muguruza also comes into the tournament having captured the WTA Finals title in Guadalajara to end the year ranked third, which was her highest ranking since July 2018
While the scoreline appeared one-sided, Muguruza didn't have it all her own way against the 20-year-old Burel.
She was unable to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second set but hit back immediately to wrap up the victory soon after.
with agencies
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