London – Defending champion Petra Kvitova wasted little time moving into Wimbledon fourth round as the Czech took just 53 minutes to crush America's Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-0 on Saturday.
Kvitova has yet to drop a set in defence of the title she won with a shock triumph against Maria Sharapova and Lepchenko, ranked 53rd, had no answer to the world number four's power play.
The 22-year-old, who has lost just 13 games in her three matches, blasted 15 winners and forced the out-classed Lepchenko to make 38 errors in a brutal demolition on Court One.
After losing to Sharapova in the semifinals of the Australian and French Opens this year, Kvitova had been at a low ebb before Wimbledon, but the All England Club seems to bring the best out of her and she is back in the dominant mood that galvanised her remarkable run 12 months ago.
Kvitova, seeded fourth, will play former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I'm feeling better with every match I play here. The third round today was much better than the first round,” Kvitova said.
“I'm so happy that I played well and I'm glad that I made so few unforced errors.
“For the last two years, I've played so well here. I feel very confident on the court and my serve can help me.” – Sapa-AFP