Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep tumble out of Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open

30 September 2015 04:01

Defending champion Petra Kvitova and top seed Simona Halep crashed out of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open on Wednesday.

Kvitova was beaten in straight sets by Roberta Vinci 7-6 (7/3) 6-2 while Halep, the world number two, lost to British qualifier Johanna Konta 6-3 3-6 7-5 to leave the tournament without two of its major stars before the quarter-finals.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova sprung out to a 4-0 lead but some loose shots allowed Vinci back into the match and she never looked back.

US Open finalist Vinci, who denied Serena Williams the chance of completing the season's grand slam in New York earlier this month, told wtatennis.com: "Against Petra it's always tough to play - she's an incredible player, she won last year here - but I played a really good match."

Konta produced the upset of the tournament so far as she came from 5-1 down in the deciding set to become the first British woman to beat a top-two player for 34 years.

The world number 66, who has now won 21 of her past 22 matches, will meet seven-time major winner Venus Williams in the next round.

"I'm feeling humbled and blessed I get to come back (on Thursday) and compete again," Konta said in her on-court interview televised by BT Sport 1.

"It was two hours and 17 minutes of very, very tough tennis for me. Simona really played some unbelievable tennis in parts - she may not be feeling her best, but I'm just really happy I was able to take a few of the chances I created."

Williams booked her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-4 win over seventh seed Carla Suarez Navarro.

Garbine Muguruza and Angelique Kerber were the highest seeds to progress.

Muguruza, the fifth seed, won 12 of the last 13 games as she came from behind to beat Ana Ivanovic 4-6 6-1 6-0.

"I was expecting a difficult match," Muguruza said. "In the first set I think Ana was playing good - I was playing good also. In the second and the third I found my way, and my tennis level was great."

Sixth seed Kerber, meanwhile, advanced after a comfortable 6-2 6-4 victory over Camila Giorgi.

Source: PA