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Zheng Jie out of Australian Open, Makarova stuns Williams
January 23, 2012, Monday
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China's Zheng Jie lost to Italian Sara Errani 2-6, 1-6 in the fourth round at the 2012 Australian Open today.
World No.48 Errani claimed an impressive double break to race into an early 4-0 lead. Zheng, who reached the semifinals in 2010, only hold one serve game in the whole match, which occurred in the second set.
"I was totally overwhelmed today on court," said Zheng, "I was not used to the way she plays and I could not answer with powerful backhand returns because of my back injury."
"She did play well today and better than me," said Zheng, with a smile, "but I am satisfied with all the matches played here in Melbourne Park."
"After a year off, I didn't expect that I could go this far at the Australian Open," said Zheng, who missed a whole season due to her wrist injury in 2011.
The Italian adapted to the conditions and unleashed her true colors at the Melbourne Park. After dumping Zheng, she not only maintained her winning streak against the Chinese but also booked a quarter-final spot at this major hard court tournament which holds prize money of US$2.3 million for the winner.
Errani flashed into the Margaret Court Arena and wiped out the opening four games in a row before the Chinese snatched a break back. She broke Zheng's serve twice again and bagged the opener with a 6-2 victory.
As the only Chinese player left in the main draw, Zheng was broke four times in the first set by the 24-year-old opponent. She also had 47 unforced errors, while Errani only made 18.
Zheng held her opening serve in the following set, but only saw the Italian went into the rage mode and stroke out the last five games in a row, earning the breadstick in 42 minutes. She swiped in entire serves without facing any obstacle and cashed in both break chances.
Zheng Jie also had five double faults while her first serve points won percentage is only 39 percent. Errani got nine break points and grabbed six of them.
The loss stops Zheng Jie's eight-match winning streak in the new season.
Errani's next challenge is the world number two Petra Kvitova, who upset Ana Ivanovic in straight sets 6-2, 7-6(2) to set-up this encounter.
Russia's Ekaterina Makarova seized on a listless performance from Serena Williams to send the five-time champion crashing in a major shock at the Australian Open today.
In hot conditions, the little-known world number 56 won 6-2, 6-3 to end Williams' 17-match winning streak at Melbourne Park and reach her first ever grand slam quarter-final.
Williams, a 13-time slam-winner, was expected to cruise past the 23-year-old Russian, who surprised seventh seed Vera Zvonareva in the third round.
But almost from the first point it was obvious that Williams was not her usual self as mistakes came thick and fast from her racquet, 37 in all.
The 30-year-old's movement was also below-par and she often didn't even attempt to chase down wide balls. In contrast, Makarova was going after everything and waiting for the almost inevitable mistakes.
Makarova broke Williams twice in the first set to win the opener in 31 minutes, but Williams seemed to get things back on track with an early break in the second, only to surrender it the next game.
Makarova held serve to level the set at 2-2, then broke again as a frustrated Williams served three double-faults, the last to concede the game.
If the Russian was feeling any nerves at leading one of the greatest players in women's tennis history, she wasn't showing them as she confidently moved to a 5-3 lead, before attacking Williams' serve and bringing up her first match point at 30-40.
Williams saved the first match point, then two others with big serves, but on the fourth the American sent a forehand wide and Makarova was through.
"It's an amazing feeling, it's unbelievable," she said immediately afterwards. "She's an unbelievable player and I'm just really happy."
The loss ended Williams' 17-match winning streak at Melbourne Park, which began at the 2009 Open. She won in 2009 and 2010 before missing last year with injury.
It was the American's first loss to a player outside the top 50 in three years, when she went down to world number 95 Klara Zakopalova in Marbella.
World No.48 Errani claimed an impressive double break to race into an early 4-0 lead. Zheng, who reached the semifinals in 2010, only hold one serve game in the whole match, which occurred in the second set.
"I was totally overwhelmed today on court," said Zheng, "I was not used to the way she plays and I could not answer with powerful backhand returns because of my back injury."
"She did play well today and better than me," said Zheng, with a smile, "but I am satisfied with all the matches played here in Melbourne Park."
"After a year off, I didn't expect that I could go this far at the Australian Open," said Zheng, who missed a whole season due to her wrist injury in 2011.
The Italian adapted to the conditions and unleashed her true colors at the Melbourne Park. After dumping Zheng, she not only maintained her winning streak against the Chinese but also booked a quarter-final spot at this major hard court tournament which holds prize money of US$2.3 million for the winner.
Errani flashed into the Margaret Court Arena and wiped out the opening four games in a row before the Chinese snatched a break back. She broke Zheng's serve twice again and bagged the opener with a 6-2 victory.
As the only Chinese player left in the main draw, Zheng was broke four times in the first set by the 24-year-old opponent. She also had 47 unforced errors, while Errani only made 18.
Zheng held her opening serve in the following set, but only saw the Italian went into the rage mode and stroke out the last five games in a row, earning the breadstick in 42 minutes. She swiped in entire serves without facing any obstacle and cashed in both break chances.
Zheng Jie also had five double faults while her first serve points won percentage is only 39 percent. Errani got nine break points and grabbed six of them.
The loss stops Zheng Jie's eight-match winning streak in the new season.
Errani's next challenge is the world number two Petra Kvitova, who upset Ana Ivanovic in straight sets 6-2, 7-6(2) to set-up this encounter.
Russia's Ekaterina Makarova seized on a listless performance from Serena Williams to send the five-time champion crashing in a major shock at the Australian Open today.
In hot conditions, the little-known world number 56 won 6-2, 6-3 to end Williams' 17-match winning streak at Melbourne Park and reach her first ever grand slam quarter-final.
Williams, a 13-time slam-winner, was expected to cruise past the 23-year-old Russian, who surprised seventh seed Vera Zvonareva in the third round.
But almost from the first point it was obvious that Williams was not her usual self as mistakes came thick and fast from her racquet, 37 in all.
The 30-year-old's movement was also below-par and she often didn't even attempt to chase down wide balls. In contrast, Makarova was going after everything and waiting for the almost inevitable mistakes.
Makarova broke Williams twice in the first set to win the opener in 31 minutes, but Williams seemed to get things back on track with an early break in the second, only to surrender it the next game.
Makarova held serve to level the set at 2-2, then broke again as a frustrated Williams served three double-faults, the last to concede the game.
If the Russian was feeling any nerves at leading one of the greatest players in women's tennis history, she wasn't showing them as she confidently moved to a 5-3 lead, before attacking Williams' serve and bringing up her first match point at 30-40.
Williams saved the first match point, then two others with big serves, but on the fourth the American sent a forehand wide and Makarova was through.
"It's an amazing feeling, it's unbelievable," she said immediately afterwards. "She's an unbelievable player and I'm just really happy."
The loss ended Williams' 17-match winning streak at Melbourne Park, which began at the 2009 Open. She won in 2009 and 2010 before missing last year with injury.
It was the American's first loss to a player outside the top 50 in three years, when she went down to world number 95 Klara Zakopalova in Marbella.
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