Haddad Maia downs Kvitova on opening day of new Queen’s Club Championships

Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia came from a set down to beat former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and reach the second round of the new WTA 500 event at Queen’s Club on Monday.

After a 52-year gap since the last top-tier women’s event was held at the London grasscourt club, it was fitting that twice Wimbledon winner Kvitova opened proceedings on a court named after former British Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.

After an impressive start on the pristine centre court lawn in front of a sizeable crowd, however, the Czech was unable to hold off her younger opponent who prevailed 2-6 6-4 6-4.

Kvitova, who won her titles at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014, made her comeback from a 17-month maternity break in February and gained entry to the tournament via a protected ranking.

After holding serve in a marathon fifth game, the 35-year-old surged on to win the opening set and looked on course for only her second victory since returning.

The rust was apparent though as world number 23 Haddad Maia worked her way back into the match and claimed the win.

After levelling the match she got an early break in the deciding set and that proved decisive as she sealed a clash against American third seed Emma Navarro.

“For sure (Petra) is won of the best players on this surface and it’s a privilege to be here,” Haddad Maia said.

German qualifier Tatjana Maria also made it through as she beat former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez 7-6 6-2.

Strycova to replace Pala as Czech Billie Jean King Cup team captain: Two-time Wimbledon doubles champion Barbora Strycova will take over as captain of the Czech Billie Jean King Cup team from Petr Pala, the national tennis federation confirmed on Monday.

Pala took the helm in 2008 and led the Czechs to six Fed Cup victories in 2011-2018, leaning on the likes of Kvitova, Lucie Safarova, Karolina Pliskova and Strycova herself.

The Czechs have been less impressive since the women’s team competition changed to the Billie Jean King Cup in 2020, also because of a generational shift.

“I have realised the girls are younger and younger and I’m not getting any younger with them, it’s rather the contrary,” Pala, 49, told Czech media on Monday.

Agencies