TWO-time champion Petra Kvitova and former winner Maria Sharapova both suffered surprise defeats in the first round of the women’s singles at Wimbledon.
Eighth seed Kvitova never looked comfortable against world number 50 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, who won 6-4 4-6 6-0.

Qualifier Vitalia Diatchenko came from a set and 5-2 down to defeat Sharapova.
The world number 132 battled back to win 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.
Sixth seed Caroline Garcia from France also went out after a 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 defeat by Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic.

But last year’s winner Garbine Muguruza made a solid start to the defence of her title with a 6-2 7-5 win over British wildcard Naomi Broady.
There was also an easy win for top seed Simona Halep, who beat Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-2 6-3.

Kvitova has now gone out before the quarter-finals in five of her six Grand Slam appearances since returning to action after the stabbing that left her with severe lacerations to her playing hand in 2016.

“I’m sad. I wanted to win very badly, maybe too much. The nerves were there again. I just tried to kind of fight with myself,” she said.
“I was the biggest opponent I could have. I didn’t really have a clear mind. I was thinking a little bit too much.

(BBC Sport)