Madrid Open: Petra Kvitova cruises, Grigor Dimitrov crashes

Former champ Petra beats Kudermetova to enter Last 8, while Grigor suffers first-round loss to SA’s Lloyd Harris

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov fell in the first round of the Madrid Open on Monday after losing in three sets to South African Lloyd Harris. 

Harris, who beat World No. 4 Dominic Thiem and Denis Shapovalov en route to the final in Dubai in March, pulled off another upset by ousting Dimitrov 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5). 

The World No. 54 held off a late fightback from 13th seed Dimitrov, who saved three match points in the final set before breaking back to force a tie-break. 

“It was a big up and down match, I had a set and a break, then I was a break up in the third too,” said Harris. “I got a little bit nervous at the end but I’m happy to close it out.” 

In the women’s draw, Petra Kvitova, the champion in 2011, 2015 and 2018, had to work hard to beat Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals. Eighth seed Belinda Bencia is also through after Ons Jabeur retired trailing 7-6 (2) 4-3. 

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