Kvitova, Konta exit early in Charleston

Petra Kvitova’s first appearance at the WTA tournament in Charleston has lasted one match.

The Czech, seeded No.2 at the green-clay tournament, fell in three sets to compatriot Kristyna Pliskova.

On Wednesday night, Madison Keys ensured she wouldn’t join Kvitova on the sidelines, overcoming Lara Arruabarrena in three sets.

“I obviously started really well and I think my level dropped, and she raised her level. Not a great second set, but I’m glad I figured it out in the third,” said Keys, who found herself down a break early in the decider.

“I think I just started putting a few more balls in the court. And worked from there.”

Kvitova’s 1-6 6-1 6-3 defeat marked the first time in 25 matches that she has lost to a countrywoman.

Well, that took a turn:

#77 Kristyna Pliskova beats Petra Kvitova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 in Charleston R2.

Kvitova had won *TWENTY-FOUR* straight matches against Czech players, dating back to Madrid 2012 (Hradecka), as well as NINETEEN straight sets before losing the second set today.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) April 4, 2018

Pliskova, ranked 77th, moves through to a third-round meeting with 16th seed Elena Vesnina, who got past Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-1.

Kvitova wasn’t the only big name ousted from the Premier-level event; No.6 seed Johanna Konta joined her on the sidelines after a straight-sets loss to qualifier Fanny Stollar.

The Brit’s struggles on clay were well-documented in 2017, with Konta going 2-4 and falling in the first round at Roland Garros.

The surface and an inspired opponent again proved too much on Wednesday, with Stollar winning 6-3 6-4 to progress to a last-16 meeting with 12th seed Kiki Bertens.

Of Stollar’s five career tour-level main-draw victories, four have come in Charleston, where she also reached the third round in 2017.

> VIDEO: “Don’t leave me!” says Ahn to coach

Fifth seed Julia Goerges helped restore some order to the draw, ousting American Kristie Ahn in a third-set tiebreak.

Also advancing to the third round were Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka, eighth seed Anastasija Sevastova and No.9 seed Ash Barty, who recovered from a set down to beat Tatjana Maria.

Osaka on letting frustration nearly get the better of her today: "I feel like these past weeks since Indian Wells, everything has gone by so fast, and I feel like I'm just mentally a little bit tired, so I think that's something that I need to learn how to fix.” #VolvoCarOpen

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) April 4, 2018

Barty and Sevastova will clash on Thursday, while on the same day Osaka will meet Goerges in a centre-court battle.

Other winners on Wednesday were No.13 seed Irina-Camelia Begu, 14th seed Alize Cornet, wildcard Sara Errani, Bernarda Pera and Camila Giorgi, who upset 11th seed Daria Gavrilova.