Petra Kvitova’s return from maternity depart after a 17-month absence led to defeat as Britain’s Jodie Burrage battled again to win in three units on the ATX Open.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova, 34, was contesting her first WTA match since 2 October 2023, on the China Open in Beijing.
The Czech made a constructive begin and gained the opening set however the 25-year-old Burrage outlasted her opponent to win 3-6 6-4 6-4.
Burrage, ranked 189 on the planet, will play Australian Ajla Tomljanovic within the second spherical.
Kvitova, who gave start to her son, Petr, final July, didn’t know whether or not she would return to tennis earlier than her break.
She has stated she was partly impressed to return after seeing fellow gamers equivalent to Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic accomplish that after giving start.
Again on the court docket, Kvitova raced right into a four-game lead with an early double break of serve in Austin.
Burrage, who reached the second spherical on the Australian Open in January, threatened a fightback as she lowered the deficit to 5-3, just for Kvitova to interrupt once more and seal the opening set.
Former world quantity two Kvitova, who turns 35 in March, twice broke again as Burrage utilized strain within the second set, however the Englishwoman struck once more within the ninth sport earlier than holding serve to like to pressure a decider.
Each gamers had been unable to grab break level alternatives at the beginning of the third set.
However the decisive second arrived when Burrage noticed off 4 break factors to carry for 4-4, earlier than breaking Kvitova within the following sport and serving out the competition.
Fellow Briton Fran Jones reached the second spherical of the Merida Open in Mexico.
Qualifier Jones, ranked 136 on the planet, led 6-4 3-0 earlier than opponent Mayar Sherif, of Egypt, was compelled to retire.
