Djokovic victorious at China Open

Updated October 07, 2012 23:25:25

World number two Novak Djokovic overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in straight sets on Sunday to win the China Open for a third time.

The 25-year-old Serb defeated the world number seven 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to maintain his unbeaten record at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing.

Djokovic has won the China Open every time he has entered, his previous titles coming in 2009 and 2010 before he missed last year because of injury, and his record at the tournament now stands at 14-0.

He is pressing to beat Roger Federer to the year-end number one spot in the world rankings and said he was "delighted" at his latest triumph.

"It's an amazing feeling to win this trophy in the new stadium," he said of the capital's National Tennis Stadium, which had yet to be built the last time he won in Beijing.

The Serbian had won his previous five meetings against Tsonga, including three this year, and was ultimately too strong for the Frenchman, who was making his first China Open final appearance and only his third full match of this year's tournament.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, china

First posted October 07, 2012 23:25:25

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Djokovic struggles, Stosur exits China Open

Updated October 03, 2012 10:36:02

Novak Djokovic made a rusty return to action at the China Open, while Samantha Stosur made a shock second-round exit at the hands of German Julia Goerges.

Djokovic, playing his first match since losing last month's US Open final to Andy Murray, beat German qualifier Michael Berrer 6-1, 6-7, (3-7), 6-2 in the men's first round, but the performance was far from impressive.

The Serbian world number two took the first set with ease but lost the second on a tie-break after hitting several unforced errors against the 123rd-ranked left-hander, before improving his groundstrokes for the decider.

"I had a tough time to really return his serve in the second (set), because he went for precision more than the speed of his first serves," Djokovic said.

"He had a very high percentage of first serves in and he put a lot of pressure on my serves. I tried to stay closer to the line in the third, and it worked."

Goerges, ranked 21st in the world, provided one of the day's upsets with her 7-6, (7-2), 4-6, 7-5 win over eighth seed Stosur.

A double fault from Stosur in the final set gave Goerges break point for the match, which she quickly put away.

Throughout the match, Stosur was frustrated by her mistakes and after falling far behind in the tiebreak, she earned a warning from the umpire for profanity.

World number one Victoria Azarenka, who pulled out of last week's Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals with fatigue, stormed into the third round by ousting Germany's Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-2.

Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska also went through, defeating China's Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki fought back from a set down to defeat Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei 6-7, (5-7), 7-6, (7-3), 6-0.

Chinese star Li Na brushed aside on-form Nadia Petrova of Russia in straight sets to progress to the last 16.

Asia's top women's player, who needs a strong showing this week to qualify for the WTA Championships in Istanbul later this month, won the match convincingly at a packed National Tennis Stadium 6-1, 6-2.

It was the 2011 French Open champion's first win against Petrova, who triumphed at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Saturday, in seven attempts.

"That's the charm in playing tennis. Every day you can challenge yourself," Li said.

"You are defeated consecutively, but it doesn't mean you are defeated by her all the time. This is sport. You never know what's going to happen."

Men's second seed David Ferrer retired due to illness during the first set of his match against Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun, while third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France battled to a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

French fifth seed Richard Gasquet easily accounted for Australian Matthew Ebden, downing him 6-2, 6-4.

AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, china

First posted October 03, 2012 10:33:08

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France beats China at Hopman Cup

Updated December 31, 2011 18:51:10

World number five Li Na did her bit but it was not enough to lift China to victory in its Hopman Cup clash with France in Perth.

Li came from a set down to defeat Marion Bartoli 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the women's singles but was forced to watch on helplessly as compatriot Wu Di was crushed 6-1, 6-3 by Richard Gasquet in the men's singles.

France then romped to victory in the deciding mixed doubles, with Bartoli and Gasquet needing just 42 minutes to sweep to the 6-1, 6-1 triumph.

Earlier, Bartoli appeared on track for a straight sets win in the women's singles after taking the first set in 44 minutes before setting up two break points early in the second set.

But Li, who has struggled to recapture top form since winning the French Open earlier this year, showed far more urgency from that point on, winning the last four games of the second set before grinding down Bartoli in the decider.

"At the beginning of the match she was playing so fast. I was like 'what's going on'," Li said.

"But after three or four games I got used to it."

Li says her French Open success in May had changed her life in so many ways, but may have also adversely affected her performances.

"If I go somewhere to play a tournament, more people know who I am," she said.

"I lose concentration on the court. I'm only focusing on the photo shooting.

"It's tough after winning a big title, [maintaining] the concentration."

Australia's unseeded pairing of Lleyton Hewitt and Jarmila Gajdosova kick off their campaign on Sunday against third-seeded Spaniards Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, perth-6000

First posted December 31, 2011 18:18:14

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Tomic takes it to China

Published:Friday, July 8, 2011 10:44 AEST

Bernard Tomic of Australia returns a shot to Zhang Ze of China during day one of the 2011 Davis Cup in Beijing on July 8, 2011.

Tags: sport, tennis, australia

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Rafter expects no favours from China

Posted June 30, 2011 16:55:00

Australia's new Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter will be warning his team not to be complacent against a well-drilled Chinese team when it travels to Beijing later this week.

The Australians head to the Beijing International Tennis Centre for their Davis Cup tie from July 8-10, with the winner earning a berth in the World Group play-off in September.

Speaking from the Australian team training camp in London, Rafter said he was happy with his team while remaining wary of its opponent.

"It is a very winnable tie for us and we go in with a very strong team," he said.

"The Chinese are awkward, they are very disciplined. They do the fundamentals very well. They play very well at home.

"Our biggest problem is if we are complacent and we take them easy. That will be the one thing that I will jam down their throat - they will be very tough."

The Australians will take a five-player squad to China for the tie.

In-form Wimbledon quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic is in the squad alongside former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, big-serving left-hander Chris Guccione, the talented Marinko Matosevic and veteran Peter Luczak.

China has named a young team headed up by 19-year-old Di Wu (ranked 409) who was one of the heroes of their Asia-Oceania first-round win over Taiwan when he beat world number 57 Yen-Hsun Lu 9-7 in the fifth set.

The Australians have been practising under the watchful eyes of Rafter and coach Tony Roche on indoor hardcourts at Roehampton in London.

- AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, australia, china

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