Petra Kvitova's Wimbledon 2017 campaign is over with the results from day three at the All England Club. The champion from 2011 and 2014 suffered a second-round loss to American player Madison Brengle. The line score in the match was 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 for Brengle, as she booked her spot in the third round for what will be her first appearance at that stage of any Wimbledon draw. Next, Brengle will face Caroline Garcia in what looks to be an open match.
Kvitova appeared poised to do damage
Kvitova, after winning a grass court title in the warm-ups for Wimbledon 2017, had become the tournament favorite.
Accordingly, her elimination from the draw lightens the load for players that might otherwise have been in her path. Certainly, Garcia would probably prefer to face Brengle given the difference in achievements at the event between the two players over the years.
Johanna Konta is a player with better odds in the Wimbledon draw now. Britain's top player shared a draw to the quarterfinals with Kvitova. The Brit survived the 2nd round as she went to 10-8 in a deciding set against Donna Vekic. Next, Konta will face Greek player Maria Sakkari in the third round. The match looks favorable for the British star due to Sakkari's inexperience in Grand Slam play. Konta certainly has to like her chances of getting to the quarterfinals now with Sakkari, Garcia, and Brengle all standing in the Brit's path to that point.
At that stage in the tournament, if Konta is still alive, she should face stiff competition. The Brit shares a draw to the semifinals with both Victoria Azarenka and Simona Halep. Either player would likely prove difficult to eliminate. However, the path to that point in the tournament doesn't look so dangerous now that Kvitova is out.
With the updated betting odds, Karolina Pliskova is the tournament favorite (source: bet365), a player on the opposite side of the draw in relation to the Brit.
Venus Williams is the only past champion still alive
With the elimination of Kvitova, only Venus Williams remains in the draw in terms of former champions at the All England Club.
The American has not won the tournament since the last decade, but she did enjoy a resurgence earlier this season at Melbourne Park. At present, Pliskova is the outright favorite, followed by Konta, and Azarenka is the third favorite in the bet365 sportsbook. Halep and Williams are both ranked 4th by the firm, each priced at +1200 to win the title at the All England Club this season.
