Stosur sent packing in Beijing
Source: Agencies |
October 5, 2011, Wednesday
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US Open champion Samantha Stosur lost in the second round of the China Open in Beijing yesterday, beaten for the second time in a week by Russian Maria Kirilenko.
Australian Stosur, the sixth seed and world No. 7, was beaten 5-7, 6-1, 5-7 by Kirilenko, who defeated her at the same stage of last week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
"I didn't get off to as good a start as you want going into a third set," said Stosur. "Three love down and then 5-2 down - that's not a deficit you want to be in when it's the last set of the match.
"I've only played two tournaments since winning the US Open, so I don't think it's the end of the world with the two results that I've had."
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki reached the third round with a text-book 6-2, 6-3 win over Australian Jarmila Gajdosova.
The Danish world No. 1, who had struggled in her first round, was rarely troubled by the big-hitting, 34th-ranked Gajdosova. She will now meet Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who beat her in the third round in Tokyo last week.
Men's top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France smashed his way to the second round, beating Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7), 7-5.
The 70th-ranked Dimitrov made Tsonga work hard, forcing a tie-break in the first set, but the world No. 7 broke serve twice from four opportunities and sealed the match with an overhead smash to signal his title intentions.
"Of course I think I have a chance, but it's tough for me to say how much," said Tsonga.
Spain's Marcel Granollers beat fifth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-1 while Czech Tomas Berdych, seeded third, defeated Austrian Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 7-5.
In Tokyo, top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain eased past Go Soeda of Japan 6-3, 6-2 yesterday to reach the second round of the Japan Open.
Nadal broke Soeda with a perfect lob to close out the first set and wrapped up the victory in 1 hour, 30 minutes at Ariake Colosseum.
"I'm really happy with my serve," Nadal said. "The ball was a bit heavy. It was difficult for my topspin."
The 10-time grand slam champion, who got in 85 percent of his first serves in the victory, will play Milos Raonic of Canada in the second round. Raonic beat Japanese wildcard Yuichi Sugita 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (1) to advance.
"He (Raonic) is a dangerous player for me in the second round," Nadal said. "He has one of the biggest serves on the tour."
Third-seeded David Ferrer of Spain ousted Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-4, 6-3 in another first-round match. The fifth-ranked Ferrer saved two break points in the final game of the second set, before converting his first match point.
Ivan Dodig of Croatia also advanced by ousting eighth-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (1). Dodig saved a match point in his final service game of the third set. Dodig will take on David Nalbandian of Argentina, after the 2002 Wimbledon finalist routed Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1.
Australian Stosur, the sixth seed and world No. 7, was beaten 5-7, 6-1, 5-7 by Kirilenko, who defeated her at the same stage of last week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
"I didn't get off to as good a start as you want going into a third set," said Stosur. "Three love down and then 5-2 down - that's not a deficit you want to be in when it's the last set of the match.
"I've only played two tournaments since winning the US Open, so I don't think it's the end of the world with the two results that I've had."
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki reached the third round with a text-book 6-2, 6-3 win over Australian Jarmila Gajdosova.
The Danish world No. 1, who had struggled in her first round, was rarely troubled by the big-hitting, 34th-ranked Gajdosova. She will now meet Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who beat her in the third round in Tokyo last week.
Men's top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France smashed his way to the second round, beating Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7), 7-5.
The 70th-ranked Dimitrov made Tsonga work hard, forcing a tie-break in the first set, but the world No. 7 broke serve twice from four opportunities and sealed the match with an overhead smash to signal his title intentions.
"Of course I think I have a chance, but it's tough for me to say how much," said Tsonga.
Spain's Marcel Granollers beat fifth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-1 while Czech Tomas Berdych, seeded third, defeated Austrian Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 7-5.
In Tokyo, top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain eased past Go Soeda of Japan 6-3, 6-2 yesterday to reach the second round of the Japan Open.
Nadal broke Soeda with a perfect lob to close out the first set and wrapped up the victory in 1 hour, 30 minutes at Ariake Colosseum.
"I'm really happy with my serve," Nadal said. "The ball was a bit heavy. It was difficult for my topspin."
The 10-time grand slam champion, who got in 85 percent of his first serves in the victory, will play Milos Raonic of Canada in the second round. Raonic beat Japanese wildcard Yuichi Sugita 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (1) to advance.
"He (Raonic) is a dangerous player for me in the second round," Nadal said. "He has one of the biggest serves on the tour."
Third-seeded David Ferrer of Spain ousted Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-4, 6-3 in another first-round match. The fifth-ranked Ferrer saved two break points in the final game of the second set, before converting his first match point.
Ivan Dodig of Croatia also advanced by ousting eighth-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (1). Dodig saved a match point in his final service game of the third set. Dodig will take on David Nalbandian of Argentina, after the 2002 Wimbledon finalist routed Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1.
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