Wozniacki recovers but Roddick goes out
Source: Agencies |
October 4, 2011, Tuesday
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WORLD No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki saw off a tenacious challenge from Lucie Hradecka to open the defense of her China Open title with a 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 first-round victory yesterday.
The top-seeded Dane struggled to find her rhythm against the powerful Czech's serve in the first set but asserted her superior ranking in the second, only to be forced into a fight for survival in a nail-biting decider against the world No. 49.
"It wasn't a pretty match, but I'm through," the relieved Dane told reporters in Beijing. "She's a player that doesn't give you any rhythm. She's serving at 200 kilometers per hour, so when it's on, it's difficult."
The 21-year-old, who was crowned world No. 1 at this event a year ago but has struggled for form recently, said maintaining her top ranking was paramount. "If you've been No. 1 pretty much the whole year, you want to finish there as well. It would be a little bit bitter to lose it in the last week of the season," she added.
Local favorite Li Na's shock first round loss on Sunday and the withdrawal of several top stars, including world No. 2 Maria Sharapova, had put a damper on the competition, but organizers will be relieved to see Wozniacki still in the draw.
But China lost another star player, with 12th seed Peng Shuai falling to Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-7 (6), 5-7.
Austria's Tamira Paszek became the first woman to reach the third round when she rallied past Czech Petra Cetkovska 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Also, wildcard entry Zheng Jie of China outlasted Alberta Brianti of Italy 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, and qualifier Virginie Razzano of France defeated Gisela Dulko of Argentina 6-2, 6-3.
The men's draw, however, saw a few upsets as South African Kevin Anderson dispatched sixth-seeded Andy Roddick 6-4, 7-5, while Flavio Cipolla of Italy accounted for Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov, the eighth seed, winning 6-1, 1-6, 6-0.
Roddick managed to handle Anderson's huge serve, but the American struggled with his own and was broken in the seventh game to go one set down. The second set brought more of the same, and while Roddick evened things up at 5-5, Anderson's momentum carried him through to the win.
"If I break twice and don't win a set that says my serve isn't on," Roddick said. "It's unacceptable."
The top-seeded Dane struggled to find her rhythm against the powerful Czech's serve in the first set but asserted her superior ranking in the second, only to be forced into a fight for survival in a nail-biting decider against the world No. 49.
"It wasn't a pretty match, but I'm through," the relieved Dane told reporters in Beijing. "She's a player that doesn't give you any rhythm. She's serving at 200 kilometers per hour, so when it's on, it's difficult."
The 21-year-old, who was crowned world No. 1 at this event a year ago but has struggled for form recently, said maintaining her top ranking was paramount. "If you've been No. 1 pretty much the whole year, you want to finish there as well. It would be a little bit bitter to lose it in the last week of the season," she added.
Local favorite Li Na's shock first round loss on Sunday and the withdrawal of several top stars, including world No. 2 Maria Sharapova, had put a damper on the competition, but organizers will be relieved to see Wozniacki still in the draw.
But China lost another star player, with 12th seed Peng Shuai falling to Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-7 (6), 5-7.
Austria's Tamira Paszek became the first woman to reach the third round when she rallied past Czech Petra Cetkovska 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Also, wildcard entry Zheng Jie of China outlasted Alberta Brianti of Italy 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, and qualifier Virginie Razzano of France defeated Gisela Dulko of Argentina 6-2, 6-3.
The men's draw, however, saw a few upsets as South African Kevin Anderson dispatched sixth-seeded Andy Roddick 6-4, 7-5, while Flavio Cipolla of Italy accounted for Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov, the eighth seed, winning 6-1, 1-6, 6-0.
Roddick managed to handle Anderson's huge serve, but the American struggled with his own and was broken in the seventh game to go one set down. The second set brought more of the same, and while Roddick evened things up at 5-5, Anderson's momentum carried him through to the win.
"If I break twice and don't win a set that says my serve isn't on," Roddick said. "It's unacceptable."
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