Wimbledon: Petra Kvitova Upsets No. 14 Victoria Azarenka

No. 14 Victoria Azarenka lost to unseeded Czech Petra Kvitova 7-5, 6-0 early on Day 6 in the third round of the Ladies Singles at Wimbledon.

Azarenka led 5-3 in the first set, but then lost the last ten straight games of the math.

Kvitova was able to dictate play effectively against the normally aggressive Azarenka throughout the match, dominating statistically in both aces (4-0) and winners (23-10).

Azarenka looked on the verge of breaking into the top five with her play last year, but has struggled mightily in 2010 ever since blowing a set and 4-0 lead to Serena Williams at the Australian Open in January. With her points from her 2009 Wimbledon quarterfinal run falling off after this loss, Azarenka may soon find herself out of the Top 20 by tournament’s end.

It’s the unseeded Kvitova’s second straight upset, having defeated No. 23 Zheng Jie in the second round as well.

This is the second time in the last four slams that Kvitova has pulled off an upset in the third round, previously upsetting another struggling top player, then-No. 1 Dinara Safina, in the third round of the 2009 US Open.