Kvitova advances in Wimbledon warm-up
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, competing in only her second tennis tournament since her playing hand was injured in a knife attack at her home, has advanced to the semifinals at the Birmingham Classic. Benefiting from the injury retirement of Italian Camila Giorgi, Australia’s Ashleigh Barty also made it through to the final four of the Wimbledon warm-up, although compatriot Daria Gavrilova wasn’t so fortunate, falling to Lucie Safarova in three sets. Yesterday’s other winner was former French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, who got through after unseeded American CoCo Vandeweghe fell and hurt her ankle. In defeating Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 7-6 (5), Kvitova struck the ball solidly on both sides, moved well and made bold forays to the net.