Two most recent Wimbledon champions Petra Kvitova and Serena Williams both moved into the second round at this year’s grasscourt Grand Slam with straight-set victories.
Defending a Grand Slam title for the first time, Petra Kvitova made a nervous start in her first-round match at Wimbledon 2012, but she overcame an initial 4-1 deficit to eventually cruise past Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4 6-4 on Centre Court. Trailing 4-1, Kvitova saved two break points to prevent being two breaks down and won five games in a row to take the first set. The second set was more straightforward, despite the short rain delay towards the end of the match.
Playing on the same court where her five-time Wimbledon champion sister Venus exited yesterday to Elena Vesnina, Serena Williams left behind her first ever first-round Grand Slam loss suffered last month at Roland Garros and advanced to the second round of Wimbledon with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, who is now 0-21 lifetime against Top 10 players.
Williams, the 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010 Wimbledon champion, will next play Melina Czink, while Kvitova will face Elena Baltacha. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
