In a thrilling start to the newly minted Queen's Club WTA 500 event, Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia overturned a first-set deficit to upset two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday.
This marks the first top-tier women's tournament at London's historic grasscourt club in 52 years. Kvitova, a 35-year-old Czech who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, entered on a protected ranking after a 17-month maternity break. She dazzled early, racing to a 6-2 opening set win on the centre court named after Andy Murray, but Haddad Maia, ranked world No. 22, battled back.
Haddad Maia said that Petra is one of the best players on this surface, adding it's a privilege to be here. An early break in the deciding set proved decisive as the 28-year-old Brazilian sealed her place in round two against American third seed Emma Navarro.
German qualifier Tatjana Maria also advanced, ousting 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez 7-6(4), 6-2. In another upset, Anastasia Zakharova defeated last year's Wimbledon semi-finalist and Olympic runner-up Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-3, setting up a clash with Madison Keys.
Action continues Tuesday as Britain's Emma Raducanu faces Spain's Cristina Bucsa in the first round, and reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova opens her grasscourt campaign against Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. Stay tuned for more grasscourt drama from Queen's Club.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
