Kvitova Clinches Comeback Win At Italian Open

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova won her first lucifer since nan commencement of her first child, past said she had been adjacent to quitting tennis.

The Czech claimed a 7-5 6-1 triumph complete Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu successful nan first information of nan Italian Open successful Rome.

Her triumph ended a tally of 4 defeats since nan 35-year-old returned to competitory action aft 15 months distant during which she gave commencement to her boy Petr.

Kvitova, who won Wimbledon successful 2011 and 2014 and reached number 2 successful nan world, said she had doubted whether she would return to nan world arena.

"I was 95% that I would ne'er travel back. I had capable of tennis astatine that time. I was like, 'I can't do it immoderate more' - truthful we decided to effort for a baby," she told nan Women's Tennis Association (WTA) website.

"I didn't opportunity thing because it wasn't 100%. When I could do thing yet aft pregnancy, I played immoderate tennis and it felt truthful good. I was laughing. Every changeable I deed smoothly, I was like, 'Wow - it's still there'."

Kvitova will now play world number 36 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia successful nan 2nd information of nan tourney played connected nan clay courts of nan Foro Italico.

Great Britain's Sonay Kartal fought backmost from a group down to book her spot successful nan 2nd information astatine nan disbursal of Kimberly Birrell.

Kartal saw disconnected nan Australian 4-6 6-3 6-4 successful a gruelling lucifer which lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes.

The 23-year-old, who was classed extracurricular nan world's apical 250 a twelvemonth agone but is now up to number 56, will play 30th seed Linda Noskova of nan Czech Republic next.

British number 3 Kartal won her only WTA circuit title astatine nan Jasmin Open successful Tunisia past year.

Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie suffered an early exit successful Rome arsenic he was beaten by Dusan Lajovic of Serbia successful 3 sets.

Norrie struggled during a one-sided opening group which Lajovic won 6-1, but rallied and took nan 2nd 6-4 to level nan contest.

However, nan British number 3 mislaid nan deciding group 6-3.