Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - Reigning champion Petra Kvitova was
an opening-round winner Tuesday at Wimbledon.
The fourth-seeded Czech slugger handled Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4,
6-4, following a brief rain delay, on the famed Centre Court at the All
England Club. Kvitova blew a match point just before rain sent the women off
the court for about 30 minutes.
Kvitova beat reigning French Open champion Maria Sharapova in last year's
women's final at The Championships.
Meanwhile, 12th-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva completed a rain-suspended match
from Monday by besting German Mona Barthel 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. Zvonareva was
the Wimbledon and U.S. Open runner-up in 2010.
In other action involving seeds, Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens upended No. 19 Czech
Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-0, No. 24 Italian Francesca Schiavone overcame promising
Brit Laura Robson 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and No. 25 Chinese Zheng Jie came back to
beat Canadian Stephanie Dubois 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Sports Network