Kerber sustains first defeat as No. 1 player

Angelique Kerber lost for the first time since becoming the No. 1-ranked player, falling to Petra Kvitova in the third round of the Wuhan Open in China.

Kvitova saved 17 of 22 break points on her way to the 6-7 (10), 7-5, 6-4 win over Kerber, who committed eight double faults.

In the quarterfinals, Kvitova will face Johanna Konta of Britain, who beat seventh-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 7-5, 7-6 (6).

Svetlana Kuznetsova ousted defending champion Venus Williams 6-2, 6-2.

■ Novak Djokovic says he has withdrawn from next week’s China Open in Beijing because of an elbow injury. He is next scheduled to play at the Shanghai Masters on Oct. 10.