Rio 2016: Wozniacki knocked out by Kvitova in straight sets

The Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova knocked out former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the second round of the Rio Olympics yesterday in another poorly attended tennis match on centre court.

Twice Wimbledon champion Kvitova overpowered Wozniacki 6-2 6-4 to progress to the third round, where she will face Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova or Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

“It was a tough draw for me. Petra played well today, really played aggressively and got me on my heels a little bit,” said Wozniacki, who is ranked 53 in the world after an injury-ravaged season.

Wozniacki’s participation had been in doubt as injury prevented her from fulfilling the minimum number of Fed Cup appearances required in a four-year Olympic cycle to qualify for the Games.

But she made it to Rio, where she was Denmark’s flagbearer in the opening ceremony.

Germany’s Angelique Kerber, ranked second in the world, faced stubborn resistance from Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard but won 6-4 6-2.

Madison Keys of the USA, who is seeded seventh, also progressed to the third round after a nail-biting 7-5 6-7(4) 7-6(5) win against France’s Kristina Mladenovic on court one.