Tennis: Fatigued Zhang ousts Dokic

China’s Zhang Shuai fought off fatigue to upset Australian fourth-seed Jelena Dokic 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round of the $220,000 WTA College Park event. After playing in a national tournament in China, the 22-year-old was still jet-lagged after a 12-hour flight to Washington but she ignored her coach’s suggestion that she should withdraw. Meanwhile, Dokic brushed aside thoughts of disappointment after the defeat. “I’m not too disappointed,” she said. “I would’ve liked to have won but the idea is to peak for the US Open.” Russia’s Nadia Petrova downed US qualifier Alexandra Mueller 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the second-round.




Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2011.