Reigning champ Azarenka crashes out

Beaten in three sets by Petkovic in first round of China Open.

BEIJING: Reigning China Open champion Victoria Azarenka crashed out in the first round yesterday as the second seed faced stiff resistance from former finalist Andrea Petkovic.

The world number two rarely showed glimpses of the form which helped her claim the title last year, at times appearing sluggish as she committed a staggering 15 double faults in the 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss.

It is the second early exit in a row for the 24-year-old, who complained of feeling ill when she was defeated by Venus Williams in the Pan Pacific Open last week.

Azarenka appeared agitated in the opening set, even before Germany’s Petkovic broke her serve following a string of double faults.

She regained her composure in the second set and appeared to be on course for victory when she broke Petkovic at the start of the third set.

However, the 2011 finalist then seized the initiative, claiming victory in two hours and 22 minutes.

China’s Zhang Shuai continued her sizzling form, defeating compatriot Peng Shuai 6-3, 6-3 to set up a second-round match against tenth-seed Roberta Vinci.

Meanwhile, eighth-seed Jelena Jankovic needed three sets to overcome Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 1-6, 6-4, 6-0. Compatriot Ana Ivanovic claimed victory over Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (11/9), 6-1.

China’s top-ranked player falls at first hurdle

The men’s tournament got under way yesterday, but it was heartbreak for the home crowd after China’s top-ranked player fell at the first hurdle.

Zhang Ze was knocked out by Australian number one Bernard Tomic 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Tomic will now take on fifth seed Richard Gasquet.

“We were playing juniors matches before and when Tomic was a junior he was sometimes sloppy and he gave many free points,” said Zhang.

“Now he has grown a lot and he is more serious on every single point when he plays.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2013.

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