Petra Kvitova issued a reminder of her ability ahead of the Australian Open when she beat Elena Rybakina in a clash of Wimbledon champions at the Adelaide International. (More Tennis News)
T♑he 32-year-old Kvitova, who won at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014, relied꧅ on a powerful serve in her 6-3, 7-5 win over the reigning Wimbledon champion.
Former world No. 2 Kvitova also carried form from the recent United Cup, at which she represented the Czech Republic and won a notable victory over third-ranked ꩵAmerican Jessica Pegula.
Rybakina became the first player from Kazakhsta🧔n to win a major title when she beat Ons Jabeur ♍at Wimbledon last year. But she struggled to get into Monday's match against Kvitova, whose serve set up key points.
“I lost (to Rybakina) last season and she played really great, serving really 🔯well, so, I focused on my serve, wa𓄧ited for my chances to break her,” Kvitova, said.
“And my serve worked very well today. Iܫt's w🌟hat I'm very happy with.
“It was ♍about (dominating) the serve and fiജrst one or two points of the rallies.”
Mosඣt players have hailed the United Cup mixed 🐟teams format as a success and welcomed the unusual experience of male and female players working together as teammates.
“I enjoyed ꦍthe United Cup and playing with the guys,” Kvitova 🌊said.
"It w💃as a different vibe and gᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚave me great practice, great attitude as well, so I came here playing very well.”
Kvitova now will p♕lay either Shelby Rogers or Zheng Qinwen in the sec𒊎ond round.
Another Wimbledon champion, Garbine Muguruza, was beaten in the first round. Muguruza joined the main draw as꧂ a wild card and lost 6-3, 6-4 to eighth-seeded Belinda Bencic.
Earlier, Swiss qualifier Jil Teichman🧸n, also fresh fꩲrom the United Cup, beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-4.
A💟t the Hobart International, American qualifier Lauren Davis beat fourth-seeded compatriot Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-2. It was Stephens' second consecutive first-round exit after her loss as the second seed at the A💦SB Classic in Auckland.
