Li Na ousts Pliskova, Safina ends streak of losses
Source: Agencies |
August 4, 2010, Wednesday
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SECOND-SEEDED Li Na of China beat Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic 7-6(5), 6-3 on Monday in the first round of the Danish Open in Copenhagen.
Li broke Pliskova in the fourth game of the first set to lead 3-1, but the 241st-ranked Pliskova broke back to force a tiebreaker. Li broke once in the second set to close out the indoor hard-court match.
Fifth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany hit six aces on the way to beating Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 6-4.
Other seeded players advancing included No. 7 Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic and No. 8 Angelique Kerber of Germany.
Zakopalova defeated Paraguay's Rossana De Los Rios 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-0, and Kerber routed Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1.
In California, former world No. 1 Dinara Safina ended a six match losing streak by beating Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 7-6 (2) in the first round of the San Diego Open.
Safina was joined in the second round by another Russian, Alisa Kleybanova, who overcame Aravane Rezai of France 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to earn herself a match up against top seed Jelena Jankovic.
Safina, who has slumped to No. 35 in the rankings after struggling with a back injury this year, proved too strong for her Ukrainian opponent
The Russian will play either fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska or Chanelle Scheepers in the next round.
Safina came out on top in a number of crosscourt backhand rallies and kept her composure as Bondarenko frequently lost her temper, smacking her racket on the court time and time again. Bondarenko was able to push the Russian into a second set tiebreaker but Safina wrestled control quickly, ripping three crisp winners to win it 7-2 when Bondarenko produced a forehand error.
"I needed the win," Safina said. "Last week I lost a tiebreaker and in practice I lost one because I was playing defensive. Tonight I said I'm not going to play defensive and be aggressive and whatever happens, happens."
Twelve months ago Safina held the No. 1 position but her back injury and an alarming loss of confidence has contributed to her fall in the rankings.
Li broke Pliskova in the fourth game of the first set to lead 3-1, but the 241st-ranked Pliskova broke back to force a tiebreaker. Li broke once in the second set to close out the indoor hard-court match.
Fifth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany hit six aces on the way to beating Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 6-4.
Other seeded players advancing included No. 7 Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic and No. 8 Angelique Kerber of Germany.
Zakopalova defeated Paraguay's Rossana De Los Rios 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-0, and Kerber routed Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1.
In California, former world No. 1 Dinara Safina ended a six match losing streak by beating Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 7-6 (2) in the first round of the San Diego Open.
Safina was joined in the second round by another Russian, Alisa Kleybanova, who overcame Aravane Rezai of France 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to earn herself a match up against top seed Jelena Jankovic.
Safina, who has slumped to No. 35 in the rankings after struggling with a back injury this year, proved too strong for her Ukrainian opponent
The Russian will play either fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska or Chanelle Scheepers in the next round.
Safina came out on top in a number of crosscourt backhand rallies and kept her composure as Bondarenko frequently lost her temper, smacking her racket on the court time and time again. Bondarenko was able to push the Russian into a second set tiebreaker but Safina wrestled control quickly, ripping three crisp winners to win it 7-2 when Bondarenko produced a forehand error.
"I needed the win," Safina said. "Last week I lost a tiebreaker and in practice I lost one because I was playing defensive. Tonight I said I'm not going to play defensive and be aggressive and whatever happens, happens."
Twelve months ago Safina held the No. 1 position but her back injury and an alarming loss of confidence has contributed to her fall in the rankings.
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