Kvitova crashes out to Brengle

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has crashed out in the second round at the All England Club following a three-set loss to Madison Brengle.

Kvitova, who won the Birmingham title in the lead-up to the Championships and who was the bookies’ favourite for the title, fell 6-3 1-6 6-2 late on Wednesday on No.3 Court.

“Not great, unfortunately. But that’s how it is. I mean, that’s happens sometimes on the court, and I just couldn’t handle it today,” Kvitova admitted.

“Unfortunately I didn’t really start well in the third set, which I think it took me a lot of energy, as well. I just couldn’t get back to that set. It was tough to turn it around afterwards.”

A day Madison Brengle will never forget…

The American beats Petra Kvitova 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/a3NU0GfZ0a

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2017

It was astounding that Kvitova was considered the favourite given she’d only played two events since returning to tennis following a knife attack in December; even she was rather bemused by her status.

Yet her dominant ball-striking in Birmingham and her history of success at the All England Club had many tipping her for the title.

Kvitova, seeded 11th this year, has not been beyond the third round since her last run to the title in 2014.

The Czech struggled physically as the match wore on; down 5-2 in the third set, she called for the trainer who checked her pulse and blood pressure.

Brengle, a relative Wimbledon novice appearing for just the third time in the main draw and having never won at the tournament until this year, played an intelligent match.

She achieved depth and consistency and got the decreasingly-nimble Kvitova on the move, and sealed victory in one hour and 43 minutes.

“My body just didn’t really do the best, unfortunately,” Kvitova said.

“But I was really trying. I fight, and I’m not sure what’s happen, actually. I could not just breathe, and I was feeling a bit sick, as well. That’s sometimes happened. But unfortunately it happened at Wimbledon, which is not nice.

“But she still played what she could. I mean, she hit everything back. It was just tough for me to still have those energy to put it back and play my aggressive game.”

Brengle next faces 21st seed Caroline Garcia.