Wimbledon champ, Kvitova, ousted at U.S. Open

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, who won her first major title at Wimbledon last month, has been sent home early by No. 49 ranked Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania. It was a straight-sets victory, 7-6(3), 6-3 for the 22-year-old Dulgheru who has only two career WTA singles titles.

Kvitova became the first reigning women’s Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round of the U.S. Open in the modern era, not a distinction one wants to have.

Sharapova loses in first round of Pan Pacific Open

No. 15 ranked Maria Sharapova of Russia was sent packing today by No. 67 ranked wildcard Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan in the first round of the 2010 Pan Pacific Open being played in Tokyo, Japan.

The 23-year-old Maria was the defending champion of this tournament, but was shown the exit door by a local resident and all-time Japanese # 1 Kimiko who turns 40 tomorrow.

Long-time Japanese crowd favorite Kimiko stunned the former world No. 1 Maria 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Kimiko advanced in 2 hours, 9 minutes, as Maria, still struggling with her serve, piled up 11 double faults and had her big serve broken five times.

Wozniacki breezes into round 3 with easy win over Garbin

No. 3 seed, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, had an easy victory over unseeded, No. 56 ranked Tathiana Garbin of Italy. Caroline took the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.

Caroline had little trouble against Tathiana, relying on her forehand to break five times in a one-sided contest. She wrapped up the win after just 68 minutes when Garbin fired a forehand long.

Caroline will now face No. 31 seed, Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania.

Kuznetsova, Safina, Azarenka, Dementieva, Wozniacki, Radwanska among top 10 seed upsets in Rome

Maria Kirilenko of Russia is making her way through the draw at the 2010 WTA Internazionali BNL d’Italia currently being played May 2-9 in Rome, Italy. In reaching the Quarterfinals, she knocked off No. 5 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in round 2. In round 3, she defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Kirilenko now faces No. 1 seed, Serena Williams of the USA in the Quarterfinals.

Another big upset in Rome was achieved in round 2 by Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania who defeated No. 3 seed, Dinara Safina of Russia, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1. Dulgheru was then ousted by No. 14 seed, Nadia Petrova of Russia, 0-6, 6-3, 2-6.

Dementieva Seeded No 1 at WTA Open GDF Suez

No. 7 ranked Elena Dementieva of Russia is seeded No. 1 for the $700,000 WTA Open GDF Suez being played in Paris, France, February 8-10, 2010. After a 1st round bye, Dementieva will take on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia who was a 1st round winner over Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic.

The top seeds include: