Kvitova joins list of seeds to fall

TWO-TIME champion Petra Kvitova became the latest top women’s seed to crash out in the first round, blown off Court No 1 by the world No 50. The Czech world No 7 was outclassed by Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. And the women’s draw was later blown wider open when sixth seed Caroline Garcia of France lost 7-6, 6-4 to world No 56 Belinda Bencic. Four of the top 10 seeds are out, after Sloane Stephens (4) and Elina Svitolina (5) lost on Monday. Kvitova, the eighth seed, had not lost in the first round since 2009 but had no answer to Sasnovich in the final set as she capitulated in 34 minutes. The 28-year-old, who won in 2011 and 2014, said: ‘I think most things weren’t working. ‘I just didn’t feel well. The nerves were there again. I tried to kind of fight with myself.’ Asked why she found it harder to perform well at Grand Slams now, compared to earlier in her career, Kvitova said: ‘I think I didn’t really care that much before. I do care, unfortunately, now.’ After Sasnovich breezed through the final set, she said she had the energy to play another match straight away.