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Petra Kvitova knocked out of Australian Open by local Daria Gavrilova

Toby Keel

Updated 20/01/2016 at 13:10 GMT

Sixth seed Petra Kvitova was knocked out of the Australian Open by local hope Daria Gavrilova.

Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova gestures after defeat in her women's singles match against Australia's Daria Gavrilova

Image credit: AFP

With twice Wimbledon champion Kvitova all over the place with some loose shotmaking, Gavrilova kept her nerve superbly as she claimed the opening set.
As glory beckoned she faltered, however: Gavrilova led by a break in the second set, served for the match at 5-4 and held a match point, which Kvitova saved as she broke to stay alive.
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Australia's Daria Gavrilova reacts during her second round match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 20, 2016

Image credit: Reuters

But the Aussie world number 38, who only became an Australian citizen last month, bounced back as she grabbed two more match points on Kvitova's serve.
The Russian-born star hoiked the first of those wide - but won the match on the second of them to knock out the sixth seed and produce the biggest shock of the third day of the tournament.
Afterwards, she said: “It was unreal, I was so nervous at the end. I am just really proud.
“In the last game I told myself: ‘You are down 5-3 and you are trying to stay in the match’.”
“It means a lot. I can’t describe it, I am just really happy and I just have to prepare for the next one.”
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