Youngster Zhang shocks world No 1 and herself at Open

Young Chinese player Zhang Shuai awoke yesterday looking at her clash with Dinara Safina more as a learning experience rather than a chance to upset the world's No 1 player.

However, in a major shock, 20-year-old Zhang beat the Russian top seed 7-5, 7-6 (5) to reach the third round of the $6.6 million China Open tournament. It was the biggest upset of the tournament in the Chinese capital so far; even greater than No 3 seed Venus Williams' 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 loss to Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova earlier in the day.

"I was very excited this morning when I woke up but I never thought of this result," said wildcard Zhang. "I just wanted to learn from the world No 1."

Safina, who lost her opening match at last week's Pan Pacific Open in Japan to a qualifier, made 20 unforced errors and 12 double faults in the 126-minute contest. She slammed her racquet on to the court after the match before leaving in tears.

"I'm just having some bad losses right now it's very disappointing. I would like to take a break and I'm very upset with myself," said Safina.

With the victory, Zhang, who is ranked 226 in the world, became the third woman from Chinese mainland to beat a world No 1. Zheng Jie was the first when she downed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia at Wimbledon last year, followed by Li Na who defeated Serena Williams at the Stuttgart Grand Prix last year. Zheng also defeated Safina in August at the LA Championships.

Zhang was modest and calm after her victory which was sealed with a forehand winner down the line.

"If I wanted to win the match, I had to remain calm," said Zhang, who defeated Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic in straight sets in the first round. "I just played point by point and didn't consider her as the world No 1 but a common rival. I don't think Safina played her best today and she made lots of mistakes."

Picking up tennis at the age of six, Zhang joined the Chinese national team in 2007 after a series of victories abroad.

Last year, Zhang qualified for the US Open main draw but lost to third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in the first round, 6-4, 6-2.

"I always believe in myself and I think I've grown more mature and calm on the court," Zhang said after yesterday's win. "The victory today will help a lot in building up more confidence in the future."

Safina's defeat cleared the way for Serena Williams, the second seed here, to reclaim the world No 1 ranking. The American only needs to finish better than Safina here to claim that mantle. Beating Kaia Kanepi in the first round, Williams faces Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the second round.

Williams' sister Venus joined Safina on the sidelines yesterday when the No 3 seed was stunned by world No 39 Pavlyuchenkova in the second round.

"She played really well today. Unfortunately, I just made too many errors," the American said in a low tone after the match.

Venus had 14 double faults and endured a seven-game losing streak which started in the second set.

"My double faults didn't help me today. I wasn't counting those, though," she said.

It was her second successive loss to the 18-year-old. She was eliminated by the Russian, a qualifier at the tournament, in straight sets in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open last month in Tokyo.

Swift revenge appeared to be on the cards when Williams easily took the first set 6-3 but the young Russian rallied tremendously through solid groundstrokes which belied her lack of experience.

"She started out way aggressive today, especially the first set. She was playing much better. She prepared for this match more than she probably did last week," Pavlyuchenkova said.

"But I just tried my best to keep her moving from side to side and it worked. I think she wanted to kill me, I guess."

Consecutive victories over the seven-time Grand Slam winner have stoked the Russian's ambitions.

"I want to win a Grand Slam so much," she said. "(Maria) Sharapova won it when she was 17, which is really quite young. And others have before. So, why not? I can do this."

She next plays Aleksandra Wozniacki of Canada for a berth in the final eight. Wozniacki defeated Aravane Rezai of France 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5).

In other women's matches, China's No 1, Li Na, gave the home audience double joy by beating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, a US Open semifinalist, failed to carry that form here as she fell to Alisa Kleybanova of Russia 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

Nadia Petrova of Russia beat compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in the first round while Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia defeated Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the third round.

(China Daily 10/06/2009 page12)