Petra breaks Serena’s Cincinnati streak

Tuesday in Cincinnati under lights saw one of the best matches of the tournament.

• Serena Williams, unfortunately had to meet Petra Kvitova (8) in the second round, when ordinarily they would be battling in the final stages of such an event.

However, the pair delivered a tremendous display of tennis to the appreciative crowd, beginning with the Czech star attacking with a river of punishing backhands, preventing Serena from making any positive advances.  Petra won five of the last six games of the opening set, and faced no break points on her serve.  The important questions were asked of Williams, who was riding an 11 match winning streak in Cincinnati.

Set two was Serena at her best, finally able to gain a grip on the Kvitová serve.  She broke in the third game, and after saving three break back points, consolidated her position.  Another service break in the seventh game and the set was virtually over.  Williams levelled at 3-6 6-2.

The players traded breaks in set three, before relentless attack from Petra brought her success when Serena was worn down in the sixth game.  Her serve was lost and Petra led 4-2.  That was enough to overcome Serena and claim victory 6-3 2-6 6-3.

A top class match, with Petra Kvitová well on the way towards a possible sixth title for 2018.  Serena Williams displayed some of her best tennis of the year and the tournament is the lesser now that she has bean defeated.

Other WTA matches:

First round

• Qualifier Kaia Kanepi defeated qualifier Varvara Lepchenko 2-6 6-3 6-1
• Ash Barty (16) defeated wildcard Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 7-5
• Ekaterina Makarova defeated qualifier Ana Bogdan 6-3 6-2
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Aleksandra Krunic 6-1 6-0
• Lucky loser Camila Giorgi defeated Anastasija Sevastova 6-2 6-3
• Karolina Pliskova (9) defeated Aga Radwanska 6-3 6-3
• Elise Mertens (15) defeated Magdaléna Rybáriková 6-4 6-2
• Qualifier Tatjana Maria defeated qualifier Allie Kiick 5-7 6-3 6-3
• Wildcard Amanda Anisimova defeated Tímea Babos 6-3 6-4
• Qualifier Petra Martic defeated Daria Kasatkina (12) 4-6 6-4 6-3
• Maria Sakkari defeated Naomi Osaka 6-3 7-6(8)
• Kiki Bertens defeated CoCo Vandeweghe 6-2 6-0

Second round

• Caroline Garcia (6) defeated wildcard Vika Azarenka 6-4 7-5
• Kiki Mladenovic defeated qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova 6-3 6-0
• Elina Svitolina (5) defeated wildcard Sveta Kuznetsova 7-6(1) 4-6 6-4

ATP 

First round

• Milos Raonic defeated qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-3
• Mischa Zverev defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-3 6-4
• Robin Haase defeated Filip Krajinovic 4-6 6-2 6-3
• Karen Khachanov defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 2-6 6-3 6-2
• Qualifier Marius Copil defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 6-2
• David Goffin (11) defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 6-3
• Nick Kyrgios (15) defeated qualifier Denis Kudla 6-7(2) 7-5 7-6(9)
• Borna Coric defeated qualifier Daniil Medvedev 6-2 6-3
• Hyeon Chung defeated Jack Sock 2-6 6-1 6-2
• Marton Fucsovics defeated qualifier Hubert Hurkacz 4-6 6-3 7-6(6)

Second round 

• Denis Shapovalov defeated Kyle Edmund (14) 6-4 7-5
• Leonardo Mayer defeated Lucas Pouille (16) 7-6(7) 6-4
• Roger Federer (2) defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-4 6-4