Defending champion Petra Kvitova has been dumped out of Wimbledon by former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone.

The Italian started on the front foot and broke her opponent in the third game before going on to clinch the set 6-4.

Schiavone broke once again in the third game of the second set and looked in complete control on Court Number Three.

However, Kvitova would not go down without a fight and broke back to level the set at 4-4.

The match was briefly interrupted by the threat of rain, but once play was back underway Kvitova raced to take the set 7-5 and level the match.

The start of the third set was also delayed by light rain, but with play on the other courts Schiavone was told that she must play on, much to her chagrin.

Kvitova dealt with the overcast conditions far better than her opponent did after the restart and raced into a 5-0 lead in the decisive set.

Schiavone did have break-back points, but was unable to take advantage. She did manage to hold serve and make Kvitova serve for the match.

The Czech held to love to secure her passage to the quarter-finals.