Wimbledon Favorite Petra Kvitova Sent Packing in Tournament’s Biggest Upset

Wimbledon Favorite Petra Kvitova Sent Packing in Tournament’s Biggest Upset article feature image
Credit:

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Petra Kvitova

Highlights

  • Petra Kvitova (-2000), the oddsmakers' favorite to win Wimbledon, lost in the first round against Aliaksandra Sasnovich (+1200) on Tuesday.
  • It's the third consecutive year Kvitova has failed to advance past the second round of Wimbledon.
  • Kvitova becomes the fourth woman in the top 10 to lose in the first round of this year's tournament.

Dogs have been barking so far at Wimbledon, but none bigger than Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who — at a price of 12-1 — knocked out Petra Kvitova, the outright favorite to win the tournament, in her first-round match on Tuesday.

Sasnovich, from Belarus, pulled off the upset in style — winning the final set 6-0 to send the Czech packing.

This now marks the third straight year that Kvitova has been the oddsmakers' favorite to win the ladies' title and her third straight early exit. Last year, Kvitova was sent home in the second round, losing to American Madison Brengle, 3-6, 6-1, 2-6. In 2016, it was a defeat at the hands of Ekaterina Makarova in the second round.

While all credit goes to Sasnovich for the upset, it's hard to ignore the potential fitness (or lack thereof) of Kvitova. The World No. 7 didn't look herself for most of her match Tuesday, and it's possible that she was still a bit hamstrung by a leg injury that forced her to withdraw from Eastbourne just a week ago.

With the win, Sasnovich moves up to No. 47 in the rankings and will face American Taylor Townsend in the second round. At +1200, the win is currently the biggest upset of the tournament on either side.

Kvitova is now the fourth woman in the top 10 to be sent home in the first round, along with: (4) Sloane Stephens, (5) Elina Svitolina and (6) Caroline Garcia.

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