Zheng outlasts Sharapova but Federer toughs it out
Source: Agencies |
March 16, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S Zheng Jie defeated former champion and 10th seed Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday in Indian Wells, California.
While Sharapova made a premature exit, it was plain sailing for second-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who hammered Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-0, 6-3, and fourth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia, who eased past Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-4 6-2.
Zheng, a surprise semifinalist at the Australian Open in January, broke Sharapova three times in the final set before clinching victory in a little under three hours with a searing forehand winner that clipped the baseline.
The 26-year-old Chinese, seeded 18th, punched her right fist in delight after booking a place in the fourth round against Australian wildcard Alicia Molik, a 6-0, 6-2 winner over British qualifier Elena Baltacha.
"It was a tough match," a smiling Zheng said. "It was good fighting in the final set. I was 2-3 down and I come back to 6-3. It's not easy and I'm so tired.
"She played so hard... but I tried to serve to her body more, because she has long arms. If I serve too wide, it's easy (for her) to hit winner. My serve always go to her body."
Zheng broke the former world number one three times to win the opening set but the 2006 champion followed suit in a protracted second set that lasted one hour eight minutes to level the match.
Early service breaks were traded in the third before Sharapova appeared to take control when she again broke the Chinese, forcing a baseline error by her opponent with a powerful forehand to lead 3-1.
After taking a medical timeout for treatment on her right elbow, Sharapova was then broken in her next two service games and Zheng, a feisty counter-puncher, took advantage by holding her own serve to close out the match.
Sharapova piled up 62 unforced errors compared to 40 by Zheng.
"She's like a ball machine," Sharapova said of Zheng. "She hits a lot of balls back, hits them hard and deep. I should have done a much better job on her serve because that is definitely one of her weaker parts of the game."
On the men's side, Roger Federer had to work harder than expected on Sunday night before beating Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the second round.
The Swiss star, who was playing his first tour match since winning the Australian Open, had 10 aces and hit 62 winners to offset 39 unforced errors. He will face No. 27 seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cypress in the third round.
"I was happy with the way I played," Federer said. "Not having played for so long, I thought it was a good match overall. Missed maybe some of the clutch serving when I really needed it, but that's something that happens."
Seventh-seeded Andy Roddick, Federer's potential opponent in the quarterfinals, beat qualifier Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei 6-4, 6-4.
Fourth-seeded Andy Murray, losing finalist here last year, beat Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4 in another second round match.
No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia withdrew after tests revealed he had a fracture in his left wrist. He is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks.
While Sharapova made a premature exit, it was plain sailing for second-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who hammered Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-0, 6-3, and fourth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia, who eased past Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-4 6-2.
Zheng, a surprise semifinalist at the Australian Open in January, broke Sharapova three times in the final set before clinching victory in a little under three hours with a searing forehand winner that clipped the baseline.
The 26-year-old Chinese, seeded 18th, punched her right fist in delight after booking a place in the fourth round against Australian wildcard Alicia Molik, a 6-0, 6-2 winner over British qualifier Elena Baltacha.
"It was a tough match," a smiling Zheng said. "It was good fighting in the final set. I was 2-3 down and I come back to 6-3. It's not easy and I'm so tired.
"She played so hard... but I tried to serve to her body more, because she has long arms. If I serve too wide, it's easy (for her) to hit winner. My serve always go to her body."
Zheng broke the former world number one three times to win the opening set but the 2006 champion followed suit in a protracted second set that lasted one hour eight minutes to level the match.
Early service breaks were traded in the third before Sharapova appeared to take control when she again broke the Chinese, forcing a baseline error by her opponent with a powerful forehand to lead 3-1.
After taking a medical timeout for treatment on her right elbow, Sharapova was then broken in her next two service games and Zheng, a feisty counter-puncher, took advantage by holding her own serve to close out the match.
Sharapova piled up 62 unforced errors compared to 40 by Zheng.
"She's like a ball machine," Sharapova said of Zheng. "She hits a lot of balls back, hits them hard and deep. I should have done a much better job on her serve because that is definitely one of her weaker parts of the game."
On the men's side, Roger Federer had to work harder than expected on Sunday night before beating Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the second round.
The Swiss star, who was playing his first tour match since winning the Australian Open, had 10 aces and hit 62 winners to offset 39 unforced errors. He will face No. 27 seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cypress in the third round.
"I was happy with the way I played," Federer said. "Not having played for so long, I thought it was a good match overall. Missed maybe some of the clutch serving when I really needed it, but that's something that happens."
Seventh-seeded Andy Roddick, Federer's potential opponent in the quarterfinals, beat qualifier Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei 6-4, 6-4.
Fourth-seeded Andy Murray, losing finalist here last year, beat Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4 in another second round match.
No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia withdrew after tests revealed he had a fracture in his left wrist. He is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks.
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