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SPORTS Thursday 6 July 2017

2-time Wimbledon champ Kvitova stunned by American Brengle

By HOWARD FENDRICH on the board to start, then
AP Tennis Writer I could relax,” Brengle said
LONDON (AP) — Madison with a smile, “because,
Brengle knew, of course, trust me, an ‘O-and-O’
that her opponent, Petra stays with you.” Now she’ll
Kvitova, was a two-time have this victory to cher-
Wimbledon champion and ish, along with another
a popular pick to win the one from this year that also
title again this year. holds some significance:
Brengle also was aware, Brengle beat Serena Wil-
of course, that she herself liams at a tuneup tourna-
never had won so much as ment at Auckland, New
one main-draw match at Zealand, back on Jan. 4.
the All England Club until Williams went on to win the
this week. This, instead, is all Australian Open later that
the 27-year-old from Dover, month and hasn’t played
Delaware, was focused on since — she is pregnant
as she began playing Kvi- and taking at least the rest
tova on Wednesday eve- of this year off — so Brengle
ning on Court No. 2: Please is, for the moment, the last
just let me win a game. woman to defeat the 23-
The 95th-ranked Brengle time Grand Slam cham-
did just that — and much, pion. “That’s my thing,”
much more, stunning the Brengle said, holding up a
11th-seeded Kvitova 6-3, fist and laughing. “I’m go-
1-6, 6-2 to reach the third ing to hold on to that one Madison Brengle of the United States returns to Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova during their Women’s
round at Wimbledon. forever.” Kvitova, who won Singles Match on day three at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Wednesday, July
The reason for Brengle’s Wimbledon in 2011 and 5, 2017. Associated Press
preoccupation with tak- 2014, had been favored by
ing merely a single game? some British bookmakers to second round there. But (near 30 Celsius) after be- third was enough. In the
In her Wimbledon debut lift the trophy at fortnight’s then she won a grass-court ing in the low 70s (20s Cel- first and last sets combined,
in 2015, she lost to Venus end, despite competing in title at Birmingham in June. sius) the prior two days. Kvitova made 45 unforced
Williams 6-0, 6-0. “So, like, only her third tournament of “I feel just really empty right “When the match (got) errors to 11 for Brengle.
that’s always in my head her comeback. She was at- now. I know my body; it’s longer and longer, I felt a Kvitova was one of a half-
when I’m out here,” Bren- tacked by a knife-wielding not great. But mentally I’m little bit sick and tired. So I dozen seeded women to
gle said, pointing a finger intruder at her home in the really glad that it’s over. I couldn’t really move. I was lose on Day 3, a group that
at her right temple. “It’s Czech Republic in Decem- mean, it was kind of a fairy so slow,” she said. “I felt like, also included No. 15 Elina
like, ‘Oh, my goodness, ber and needed surgery on tale, but on the other hand, I don’t know, like an animal. Vesnina (beaten by new
don’t do that ever again!’ her left hand, the one she it was very tough,” she said. But a very slow animal.” mom Victoria Azarenka, a
That was really tough for uses to hold a racket. “I just need to look forward Brengle took advantage former No. 1 and two-time
me.” Turned out, she didn’t Still without full strength in and look to the future.” by playing plenty of slices Australian Open champi-
need to stress about a shut- that hand — clenching it Kvitova said she felt ill and changing speeds and on), No. 17 Madison Keys,
out for too long: Brengle for a celebratory fist pump Wednesday, and she was angles. No. 18 Anastasija Sevasto-
broke the strong-serving remains difficult — Kvitova visited by a trainer in the She was out-hit by a wide va, No. 22 Barbora Stryco-
Kvitova to take the very returned at the French third set. The temperature margin in the second set, va and No. 25 Carla Suarez
first game. “As long as I got Open in May, losing in the soared toward 85 degrees but her steadier play in the Navarro.q

Medvedev tosses coins at

umpire after Wimbledon loss

By ZAC BOYER earned headlines for a de- set
Associated Press cidedly different reason “If he wants to be (peeved)
LONDON (AP) — Daniil Monday, beating three- about that, that’s his deci-
Medvedev threw a hand- time major champion Stan sion,” Bemelmans said. “It
ful coins in the direction of Wawrinka in the first round. happens in tennis.
chair umpire Mariana Alves When his 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, You should get over that.”
after his second-round loss 6-3 loss to Ruben Bemel- Medvedev, who is 21, said
at Wimbledon on Wednes- mans ended, he did not immediately
day. Medvedev shook hands apologize to Alves after the
The 49th-ranked Russian re- with his opponent and match. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev returns to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka
peatedly apologized dur- Alves. He said he would accept during his Men’s Singles Match on the opening day at the
ing his post-match news But then he grabbed his any punishment handed Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Monday, July 3,
conference, saying that he wallet from his bag and down. 2017
was not trying to imply that tossed the coins toward “Maybe in the match, dur- erywhere in every sport,” player, I (make) some mis-
Alves was biased. the bottom of the official’s ing the match, I thought Medvedev said. takes, too. One of them
“I was just disappointed chair. that it was a bit not in my “There are referees, and was, for example, after
and (did) a stupid thing,” He was unhappy with one favor, but right now I can they can make some mis- the match. I just have to
said Medvedev, who of the calls early in the fifth just say that it happens ev- takes, but me as a tennis apologize.”q