London: Two-time champion Petra Kvitova and No. 4 seed Paula Badosa of Spain won their respective women's singles second-round matches in contrasting styles as they set up a tantalising third-round clash in Wimbledon on Thursday.
Czech Republic star Kvitova, who won the title in 2011 and 2014, had to quell a second set fightback by Ana Bogdan of Romania to win 6-1, 7-6(5) while Badosa enjoyed a relatively easier time in beating another Romanian Irina Bara 6-3, 6-2.
Between 2010 and 2014, Kvitova did not lose before the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, since 2015, she has reached the last 32 only twice.
France's Alize Cornet remained on course to set the record for most consecutive Grand Slam main draw appearances. The Frenchwoman - who is now tied with Ai Sugiyama on 62 - reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open in January, and returned to the third round of Wimbledon for the first time since 2016 with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Claire Liu.
The result means that this is the first season of 32-year-old Cornet's career in which she has reached the last 32 of each of the first three Slams.
Ajla Tomljanovic, who made her first major quarterfinal at Wimbledon last year, booked her place in her second straight SW19 third round with a 6-2, 6-2 win over American qualifier Catherine Harrison. The result puts the Australian into the third round of a major for the fourth time in her career.
Australian Nick Kyrgios delivered a devastating serving masterclass as he blasted past Serbia's Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in 85 minutes to charge into the third round almost without breaking sweat.
American Taylor Fritz beat Britain's Alastair Gray 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3 in another second-round clash. The 4th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Jordan Thompson 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, 12th DiegoSchwartzmant beat Liam Broady 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-7, 6-1, Alex Molcan beat Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, Richard Gasquet beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, Boticvande Zandschulp beat Emil Ruusuvuori 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, Lorenzo Sonego beat Hugo Gaston 7-6, 6-4, 6-4, Cristian Garín beat Hugo Grenier 6-3, 6-1, 6-1, Brandon Nakashima stunned 13th seed Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 to reach the third round.
In women's section, Kaja Juvan beat Dalma Gálfi 7-5, 6-3, Qinwen Zheng beat Greet Minnen 6-4, 6-1, 17th seed Elena Rybakina beat Bianca Andreescu 6-4, 7-6, Harmony Tan beat Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-3, 6-4, 8th seed Jessica Pegula beat Harriet Dart 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, Petra Martic beat Kristína Kucova 7-6, 6-3, Magdalena Frech beat Anna Karolína Schmiedlova 6-4, 6-4, 20th seed Amanda Anisimova beat Lauren Davis 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round. Agencies
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