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Kvitova and Radwanska crash out in Eastbourne

Petra Kvitova's preparations for Wimbledon took a knock at Eastbourne © Getty Images

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Defending Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova crashed out of the AEGON International in Eastbourne at the first round stage on Tuesday, losing in straight sets to Ekaterina Makarova.

Number two seed Kvitova suffered a 7-5 6-4 defeat to Russian Makarova - who is currently ranked 48th on the WTA tour - as she made her final preparations for the defence of her Wimbledon crown ahead of the tournament's start on Monday.

In a battle of the left-handers on centre court Makarova, who took her first WTA tour title at Eastbourne in 2010 without dropping a single set along the way, started in similar fashion by dispensing with the world No. 4.

Top seed and world No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska was another big-name casualty as she fell at the hands of Tsvetana Pironkova, going down 6-2 6-4 to the Bulgarian on an unforgiving day for the seeded players.

Caroline Wozniacki was also on the end of a surprise defeat as the third seed failed to make her way past American Christina McHale. Wozniacki saved defeat in straight sets by edging a tiebreaker for the second, but eventually lost 6-1 6-7 6-4 as a sweep of the top three seeds was completed.

World No. 8 and fifth seed Angelique Kerber saw off the challenge of Elena Vesnina, but had to fight back from a set down after losing the opener. Kerber recovered rapidly by taking the second set in clinical style and went on to seal her progression to the second round with a 3-6 6-0 7-5 win.

Marion Bartoli was another seeded player who made it through safely, comfortably beating Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-2.

Laura Robson was on form as she successfully negotiated her way past Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, coming from a set down to book her passage into round two with a 3-6 6-2 6-2 win over her Spanish counterpart. Fellow Brit Heather Watson also progressed, beating Greta Arn 6-3 6-4.

Elsewhere, Kim Clijsters wasted little time in seeing off Kateryna Bondarenko at the UNICEF Open in Netherlands, beating her Ukrainian opponent 6-2 6-1 in just over an hour to make it past the second round.

There were also wins for Dominika Cibulkova and Nadia Petrova, while seeds Flavia Pennetta and Jelena Jankovic tasted defeat - to Urszula Radwanska and Sofia Arvidsson respectively.

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