Zhang Shuai secures fine win against Petra Kvitova in first round of Connecticut Open

Petra Kvitova’s final tuneup for the US Open ended with a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Zhang Shuai of China in the first round of the Connecticut Open on Monday night.

Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion and a three-time champion in New Haven, is just 4-4 on hard courts this season. The Czech player returned to the tour at the French Open in May after she was stabbed during a home invasion in December, leaving her dominant left hand seriously injured.

Watch: Petra Kvitova discusses facing “Peng” Shuai in the opening round

“I just arrived in New Haven last night, coming straight from China,” she said. “It’s a big change. It’s 12 hours’ time difference. Before the match I was still sleeping.”