Petra Kvitova 1st Round Casualty

Alexandra Dulgheru ousted Petra Kvitova

With one notable exception, Day 1 of the 2011 U.S. Open was predictable. In the women’s draw, 5th seeded left-hander from Czechoslovakia and 2011 Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova was unable to mount a rally against surprising Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania.

In notching her biggest career victory, the twenty-two year old challenger is only 12-17 in 2011 and has never defeated a top five player. On Monday, she looked unflappable against the player bookmakers liked best to challenge Serena Williams for the women’s title.

After Kvitova’s dramatic success at Wimbledon, the Czech has been on the radar screen. Since winning her first major, Kvitova’s jets have cooled. Her power game has become erratic and she appears not to be as fit as she was in July.

Petra erupted from the background with a 41 – 8 record and over $3,000,000 in earnings this year. That is twice as much money as she has made in her career prior to this season.

The Czech hit the wall on Monday. Her inconsistent play and the steady play of Dulgheru led to an unnerving performance by one of the tour’s leading ladies.

Kvitova committed 52 unforced errors in Dulgheru’s 7-6 (3), 6-3 win. The Romanian converted five of nine break point opportunities. Kvitova capitalized on just 4 of 13 break chances. The combination of unforced errors and Petra’s inability to control her serve set the stage for the Perfect Storm. The normally reliable Kvitova’s first serve was dismal. She landed just 38 percent of her first serves and Dulgheru took the offense against the struggling superstar’s second serve.

Maria Sharapova Survives

Heather Watsnon Posed a Challenge to Maria Sharapova

In another surprising test, Maria Sharapova needed everything she could muster to down 19-year old UK sensation Heather Watson. With Kvitova out of the tournament the third seeded Sharapova’s bracket has opened up a bit.

Watson appeared to have no trouble adjusting to Center Court and pressed Sharapova at every turn in the 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 2.5 hour win. Watson’s gutsy performance earned her a standing ovation at the match’s conclusion.

Sharapova showed the true grit that has come to characterize her play. Yet, the leggy blonde looked unruffled at times. Using her spirited speed, Watson made sure that Sharapova was forced to play longer points than the Russian expected. This was not the walkover first round match that Sharapova may have envisioned.

Sharapova had 58 unforced errors, 41 outright winners and 8 double faults. Those statistics were greatly influenced by Watson’s momentum.

Sharapova’s quarterfinal bracket looks much different without Kvitova in the mix. On paper, the biggest challenges for the 3 seed will come from Julia Goerges, Tsvetsana Pironkova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Yanina Wickmayer.

Day two is loaded with high profile matches on both the men’s and women’s draw. Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki will headline a full day of play.

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