Press releases

MINSK, 4 July (BelTA) - Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich (No. 50) defeated Wimbledon two-time champion Petra Kvitova (7) in the opener, BelTA has learned .

Immediately after the match Alexander Sasnovich had a call from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko who congratulated her on the win.

Aliaksandra Sasnovich kept her cool throughout the match (2 hours 14 minutes). She went for her shots, served with pace and variety and played a practically flawless decider making two unforced errors to close out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 match. In the next round she will take on Taylor Townsend of the United States (74).

The world’s No. 87 Victoria Azarenka battled past 7-6(4), 6-3 Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of Wimbledon and will play Czech Karolina Pliskova (8) in the second round.

Belarusian Vera Lapko (82) defeated U.S. Christina McHale (90) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 and will face Germany's Julia Goerges (13).

Aryna Sabalenka (32) won the first set against Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu (28)7-6 (7-3) but then lost the other two 1-6, 4-6 and thus bowed out of Wimbledon.