CARLSBAD, (California), Aug 3: Top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova had a struggle to overcome Czech Klara Koukalova 7-5 6-3 in the second round of the San Diego Classic on Tuesday. It was not such a good day for Kuznetsova’s fellow Russian Elena Dementieva, the third seed going out 7-5 6-4 to China’s Shuai Peng.
Playing her first match in more than a month, U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova looked rusty and was unable to impose her normal authority on the match. Kuznetsova, who trains in Spain, said she had been practising on a slower hard court with different balls for the last couple of weeks and was not used to the conditions yet.
Playing only her second WTA Tour match since almost upsetting Lindsay Davenport at the French Open, China’s highest-ranked player Peng outran Dementieva, staying away from the Russian’s forehand and dominating off the backhand side.
“I wasn’t thinking I was playing a top player, only to play my game and fight for every point,” Peng said.
Peng missed Wimbledon to play in the Chinese National Olympics, which was held at the same time as the grasscourt grand slam.
According to Peng’s coach, Alan Ma, the Chinese Tennis Federation was not pleased with the conflict of dates. Peng and the rest of China’s players will also miss the all WTA tournaments in October, including the Guangzhou Open, because the final stages of the Chinese Olympics are held then.
Dementieva, who often practices with the 19-year-old Peng, was impressed by her opponent’s game.
Peng was not the only Asian player to score a win on Tuesday with India’s Sania Mirza taking down Italy’s Tathiana Garbin 6-2 6-2 and Japan’s Akiko Morigami beating 15th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-1 7-5.
Results (second round):
Shuai Peng (China) bt Elena Dementieva (Russia) 7-5 6-4; Akiko Morigami (Japan) bt Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 6-1 7-5; Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) bt Klara Koukalova (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-3; Anna Chakvetadze (Russia) bt Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic) 6-4 6-3.
First round
Jelena Jankovic (Serbia and Montenegro) bt Amy Frazier (United
States) 7-5 6-0; Sania Mirza (India) bt Tathiana Garbin (Italy) 6-2 6-2; Mashona Washington (United States) bt Karolina Sprem (Croatia) 2-6 7-6(1) 6-1; Ai Sugiyama (Japan) bt Meghann Shaughnessy (United States) 3-0 (Shaughnessy retired); Francesca Schiavone (Italy) bt Abigail Spears (United States) 6-3 6-2; Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Germany) bt Eleni Daniilidou (Greece) 7-6(5) 6-4; Nathalie Dechy (France) bt Kristina Brandi (Puerto Rico) 6-2 6-2; Anastassia Rodionova (Russia) bt Samantha Stosur (Australia) 6-3 6-2; Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic) bt Jill Craybas (United States) 0-6 6-1 7-6(2).
WASHINGTON: Unseeded South African Wesley Moodie used a big service game and steady groundstrokes to stun third seed Tim Henman 7-6 7-5 on Tuesday to advance to the third round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Top seed Andy Roddick avoided Henman’s fate, with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Ecuador’s Giovanni Lapentti to join Moodie in the third round.
Moodie won the opening-set tiebreak 7-4 after each player held serve with little trouble though Henman’s service game fell apart in the second having to save three match points while serving at 4-5 in the second set.
However the Briton’s luck ran out serving at 5-6 when he dug himself into a 0-40 hole before saving another two match points. But at 30-40, Henman’s half-volley hit the net, giving the 113th-ranked Moodie the win.
The 26-year-old Moodie, who is still looking for his first singles title, said the victory would give him a boost.
Roddick, the 2001 Washington champion, smashed eight aces and numerous service winners to subdue Lapentti.
In other matches, Australian Mark Philippousis, who received a wild card, lost to Luis Horna of Peru 7-5 6-4, while American Robby Ginepri defeated compatriot Kevin Kim 6-2 6-3.
PCB has become heaven for favourites
Results (second round):
Wesley Moodie (South Africa) bt Tim Henman (Britain) 7-6(4) 7-5; Jan Hernych (Czech Republic) bt Sebastien De Chaunac (France) 7-6(7) 6-1; Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) bt Max Mirnyi (Belarus) 4-6 6-3 6-4; Tomas Zib (Czech Republic) bt Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) 0-6 6-3 7-5 ; Andy Roddick (United States) bt Giovanni Lapentti (Ecuador) 6-3 6-4.
First round
Robby Ginepri (United States) bt Kevin Kim (United States) 6-2 6-3; Bobby Reynolds (United States) bt Alex Clayton (United States) 7-5 6-4; Nathan Healey (Australia) bt Gregory Carraz (France) 6-2 6-1; Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) bt Davide Sanguinetti (Italy) 6-3 6-4; Luis Horna (Peru) bt Mark Philippoussis (Australia) 7-5 6-4; Arnaud Clement (France) bt Nicolas Lapentti (Ecuador) 6-1 3-6 6-3; Brian Baker (United States) beat Ivo Heuberger (Switzerland) 6-2 6-4 —Reuters
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