Zhang, Peng bow out in Dubai
Source: Agencies |
February 17, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GRAND slam winners Francesca Schiavone and Svetlana Kuznetsova won their second round matches at the Dubai Championships yesterday to set up their first clash since their nearly five-hour-long epic at the Australian Open.
Schiavone accounted for Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-1 while Kuznetsova, a two-time runner-up in Dubai, took the long road to beat Tsevetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 for a third straight time.
The wins put them on course to meet today, more than three weeks since their fourth-round encounter in Melbourne went for 4 hours, 44 minutes in the longest women's grand slam singles in the Open era. Schiavone won.
Looking forward to the match, Schiavone smiled and said, "After two hours, I'll take the racket and put it in the bag.
"I really want to play against her because we know each other, we play good tennis and we can enjoy it and improve."
Kuznetsova leads their matchups 8-5 since 2003, but Schiavone has won the last two.
Second-seeded Vera Zvonareva beat Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-3, 6-1.
The Russian, still seeking her first title in more than a year, has exited in the Dubai quarterfinals in the last two years.
"It's never easy to play Roberta, she's a tricky player," Zvonareva said.
Fourth-seeded Sam Stosur drubbed Pattaya Open runner-up Sara Errani of Italy 6-0, 6-1 in 55 minutes, and seventh-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus overcame seven double faults to beat Chinese qualifier Peng Shuai 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 7-5, 6-4.
Shahar Peer of Israel, a semifinalist last year, defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-4, 6-2, and Marion Bartoli of France outlasted Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
In Memphis, Tennessee, Andy Roddick beat Richard Berankis of Lithuania 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round of the RMK Championships on Tuesday.
The two-time winner in Memphis will face Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic in the second round.
Roddick, playing for the first time since the Australian Open, had plenty of unforced errors, but produced 23 aces with his strong serve.
"It was one of those days where I felt if I made a first serve the point was done, didn't have to do much work after that," Roddick said.
"That gave me a chance. And I played a little bit more aggressive in the third set."
Defending champion Sam Querrey of the United States opened with a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.
Schiavone accounted for Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-1 while Kuznetsova, a two-time runner-up in Dubai, took the long road to beat Tsevetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 for a third straight time.
The wins put them on course to meet today, more than three weeks since their fourth-round encounter in Melbourne went for 4 hours, 44 minutes in the longest women's grand slam singles in the Open era. Schiavone won.
Looking forward to the match, Schiavone smiled and said, "After two hours, I'll take the racket and put it in the bag.
"I really want to play against her because we know each other, we play good tennis and we can enjoy it and improve."
Kuznetsova leads their matchups 8-5 since 2003, but Schiavone has won the last two.
Second-seeded Vera Zvonareva beat Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-3, 6-1.
The Russian, still seeking her first title in more than a year, has exited in the Dubai quarterfinals in the last two years.
"It's never easy to play Roberta, she's a tricky player," Zvonareva said.
Fourth-seeded Sam Stosur drubbed Pattaya Open runner-up Sara Errani of Italy 6-0, 6-1 in 55 minutes, and seventh-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus overcame seven double faults to beat Chinese qualifier Peng Shuai 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 7-5, 6-4.
Shahar Peer of Israel, a semifinalist last year, defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-4, 6-2, and Marion Bartoli of France outlasted Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
In Memphis, Tennessee, Andy Roddick beat Richard Berankis of Lithuania 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round of the RMK Championships on Tuesday.
The two-time winner in Memphis will face Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic in the second round.
Roddick, playing for the first time since the Australian Open, had plenty of unforced errors, but produced 23 aces with his strong serve.
"It was one of those days where I felt if I made a first serve the point was done, didn't have to do much work after that," Roddick said.
"That gave me a chance. And I played a little bit more aggressive in the third set."
Defending champion Sam Querrey of the United States opened with a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.
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