World number one Kerber knocked out by Kvitova in Wuhan Open

ByReuters

Published 28/09/2016 at 16:43 GMT

Angelique Kerber suffered her first defeat as world no. 1 when Petra Kvitova beat her 6-7 7-5 6-4 in a marathon third-round match at the Wuhan Open in China on Wednesday.

Angelique Kerber of Germany hits to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic

Image credit: Reuters

German top seed Kerber saved three set points before a forehand error from Czech Kvitova handed the U.S. Open champion a tense first-set tiebreak.

But Kvitova, showing the battling qualities that have brought her two Wimbledon titles, fought back to force a decider.

Kvitova, seeded 14th, broke Kerber early in the third set to lead 4-2 and - despite struggling with cramp - she held her nerve to convert her seventh match point after three hours and 20 minutes on court.

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"At the end I think there is no loser. I did everything today. I was fighting until the end," Kerber told reporters.

Kvitova will face Britain's Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals.

Serena Williams is not at the tournament after withdrawing from the Wuhan and China Opens due to injury.

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