Petra Kvitova has despatched a reminder to the Australian Open discipline she isn’t any spent drive, displaying off her highly effective serve in defeating fellow Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in Adelaide.
The Czech 32-year-old arrived for the second instalment of the Adelaide occasion in good spirits after a powerful United Cup marketing campaign and it confirmed in a 6-3 7-5 first spherical win.
Kvitova gained Wimbledon in 2011, when she peaked at No.2 on the planet, earlier than including one other All England triumph in 2014.
Rybakina turned the primary Kazakhstani participant to win a serious title at Wimbledon final 12 months however could not make a dent on the Kvitova serve on Monday.
“I lost (to her) last season and she played really great, serving really well, so I focused on my serve, waited for my chances to break her,” mentioned Kvitova, ranked 16 on the planet.
“And my serve worked very well today, it’s what I’m very happy with … it was about (dominating) the serve and first one or two points of the rallies.
“I loved the United Cup and enjoying with the blokes … it was a unique vibe and gave me nice apply, nice angle as nicely so I got here right here enjoying very nicely.”
The left-hander will play the winner of Shelby Rogers and Zheng Qinwen in the second round.
Last year’s Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins was in fine touch too, racing to a 5-0 lead over former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova before prevailing 6-2 6-4.
“I used to be questioning whether or not it was going to occur at 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 after which at 5-0 she hit some nice photographs that had been too good,” Collins said of the power at Pliskova’s disposal.
“I needed to make some changes and get again into it, keep calm.
“But I don’t think Karolina was at her best. It’s ups and downs with the tennis and (about) just riding it out.
“I understand how that’s being on the opposite facet of it, hopefully I can hold enjoying my greatest tennis.”
Collins’ next assignment is Swiss qualifier Jil Teichmann, also fresh off United Cup duties, who beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5 6-4.
World No.13 and 2020 Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic was impressive in dispatching two-time grand slam winner Garbine Muguruza 6-3 6-4.
Bencic, who served strongly and didn’t face a break point, is coming off a mixed United Cup where she beat Yulia Putintseva but lost to world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
She’ll subsequent meet Jelena Ostapenko or qualifier Anna Kalinskaya.
