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Zheng thrashes Kirilenko to set up Henin semi
Source: Agencies |
January 26, 2010, Tuesday
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ZHENG Jie continued China's scorching run at the Australian Open today, outclassing Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-3 to set up her second grand slam semi-final appearance.
The 26-year-old, who became the first woman to make the last four of a grand slam as a wildcard at Wimbledon in 2008, returned fiercely in the first set, and withstood a stern challenge from Kirilenko in the second to wrap up the match in 85 minutes.
The unseeded Zheng will now meet former world number one and seven-times grand slam winner Justine Henin for a place in the final, and may well fancy her chances after playing her cleanest match of the tournament.
"(It's) very amazing for me," Zheng said in a courtside interview on the showcase Rod Laver Arena.
"I won my first title in the doubles in 2006 on this court, so I feel this court is lucky for me and I hope I can go further forward," she added, referring to her doubles championship partnered with Yan Zi, China's first grand slam title.
Zheng's victory extends the Chinese women's record-breaking run at Melbourne Park.
Prior to this year, no two Chinese players had ever made the fourth round of the same grand slam but they could have two in the last four if Li Na wins her quarter-final against American Venus Williams on Wednesday.
Zheng, whose serve is unable to compete with taller, more powerful players, has instead frustrated a string of more-fancied opponents with clean hitting and an iron determination to chase down everything.
FRUSTRATED SQUEAL
The Chinese recovered from a 6-0 blip in her first set of the tournament against compatriot Peng Shuai, then ground out two more three-set wins over 24th-seed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and 11th seed Marion Bartoli.
A straight-sets win over Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko in the fourth round had her arrive brimming with confidence for the Kirilenko clash and it showed from the start.
After cracking a forehand winner on the first point, the feisty Chinese counter-puncher attacked Kirilenko's serve at 3-1, out-rallying her to win the break and draw a frustrated squeal from the Russian.
She broke Kirilenko again before wrapping up the set with another imperious winner, her momentum only stalled temporarily between sets when the Russian, whose thigh was heavily strapped, went off court for treatment.
The lengthy time-out seemed to have helped when Kirilenko smashed a winner off her first shot, but passing stunt planes for the national holiday celebrations threw the fragile Russian, and she double-faulted before conceding an immediate break.
At 3-2, Kirilenko mounted a fierce attack on Zheng's serve to win four break-back points, but the Chinese saved them all, scrambling hard to chase down winners and return them with interest.
She then put the match in lock-down mode, out-rallying the increasingly frustrated Kirilenko to bring up three match points at 5-3, and sealing the second when the Russian double-faulted.
The 35th-ranked Zheng has only played Henin once, a straight-sets defeat in Toronto five years ago.
"She is so strong, so I just want to enjoy the match and play my best," Zheng said.
The 26-year-old, who became the first woman to make the last four of a grand slam as a wildcard at Wimbledon in 2008, returned fiercely in the first set, and withstood a stern challenge from Kirilenko in the second to wrap up the match in 85 minutes.
The unseeded Zheng will now meet former world number one and seven-times grand slam winner Justine Henin for a place in the final, and may well fancy her chances after playing her cleanest match of the tournament.
"(It's) very amazing for me," Zheng said in a courtside interview on the showcase Rod Laver Arena.
"I won my first title in the doubles in 2006 on this court, so I feel this court is lucky for me and I hope I can go further forward," she added, referring to her doubles championship partnered with Yan Zi, China's first grand slam title.
Zheng's victory extends the Chinese women's record-breaking run at Melbourne Park.
Prior to this year, no two Chinese players had ever made the fourth round of the same grand slam but they could have two in the last four if Li Na wins her quarter-final against American Venus Williams on Wednesday.
Zheng, whose serve is unable to compete with taller, more powerful players, has instead frustrated a string of more-fancied opponents with clean hitting and an iron determination to chase down everything.
FRUSTRATED SQUEAL
The Chinese recovered from a 6-0 blip in her first set of the tournament against compatriot Peng Shuai, then ground out two more three-set wins over 24th-seed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and 11th seed Marion Bartoli.
A straight-sets win over Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko in the fourth round had her arrive brimming with confidence for the Kirilenko clash and it showed from the start.
After cracking a forehand winner on the first point, the feisty Chinese counter-puncher attacked Kirilenko's serve at 3-1, out-rallying her to win the break and draw a frustrated squeal from the Russian.
She broke Kirilenko again before wrapping up the set with another imperious winner, her momentum only stalled temporarily between sets when the Russian, whose thigh was heavily strapped, went off court for treatment.
The lengthy time-out seemed to have helped when Kirilenko smashed a winner off her first shot, but passing stunt planes for the national holiday celebrations threw the fragile Russian, and she double-faulted before conceding an immediate break.
At 3-2, Kirilenko mounted a fierce attack on Zheng's serve to win four break-back points, but the Chinese saved them all, scrambling hard to chase down winners and return them with interest.
She then put the match in lock-down mode, out-rallying the increasingly frustrated Kirilenko to bring up three match points at 5-3, and sealing the second when the Russian double-faulted.
The 35th-ranked Zheng has only played Henin once, a straight-sets defeat in Toronto five years ago.
"She is so strong, so I just want to enjoy the match and play my best," Zheng said.
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