Serena survives early scare to march on

By Wang Huayun Source:Global Times Published: 2014-9-29 23:03:01

10th seed Jankovic knocked out in first round


Serena Williams serves during her first-round match at the China Open in Beijing on Monday. Photo: AFP



Defending champion Serena Williams survived an early scare in the first round of the China Open before defeating Spaniard Silvia Soler Espinosa 7-5, 6-2 in Beijing on Monday.

The top-seeded American was easily beaten in all the opening five games to the world No.70, which surprised the spectators. A furious Williams even hit the bench with her racquet during a short break after the third game. But when fans thought she might go a set down, Williams suddenly recovered her mojo and showed why she is the world No.1 by winning the next seven games to claim the set.

The newly awakened Williams seemed too much for Espinosa who couldn't regain her early luck and won just two games in the second set.

Williams has won 63 WTA singles titles in her career. She claimed six in 2014, including one Grand Slam title at the US Open earlier this month. Her ­total of 18 Grand Slam singles titles is fourth on the all-time list, and second only to Steffi Graf (22) in the Open Era.

This is the fifth time that ­Williams has appeared at the China Open, one of the four WTA Premier Mandatory events, which are inferior only to the four Grand Slams in women's tennis. She also won the title at the inaugural China Open in 2004.

She'll next play Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, who defeated Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-1.

Also on Monday, ninth seed Ana Ivanovic went through by crushing rising Swiss star ­Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.

With four WTA titles, Ivanovic is one of the seven multiple title winners in 2014, second only to Williams. Last month she returned to the top 10 for the first time in more than five years. Making her sixth appearance in Beijing, her best result is playing in the quarterfinals in 2011.

In the second round, Ivanovic will take on another Swiss player, Romina Oprandi.

Bencic, 17, was playing at the China Open for the first time. She was crowned junior girls' singles champion at the French Open last year and is now ranked No.34 in the world. This year she became the youngest US Open quarter­finalist since 1997.

Tenth seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia became the only major casualty on the day, ousted by Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

Thirteenth seed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic ousted Italy's Camila Giorgi 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, while Italian 14th seed Flavia Pennetta defeated American Christina McHale by the same score.

US Open semifinalist Peng Shuai knocked out compatriot Zhang Kailin 6-4, 6-1. The Chinese world No.24 will next face third-seeded Czech  Petra Kvitova who enjoyed a first-round bye.

In the men's competition, fourth-seeded Marin Cilic, a two-time runner-up in Beijing, ­defeated Chinese wild card Bai Yan 6-3, 6-4, and will next play Portuguese Joao Sousa who knocked out Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov, making his third appearance at the China Open, seized a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Spanish world No.32 Fernando Verdasco. This is the Bulgarian's first win in ­Beijing.



Posted in: Tennis

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