Monday, October 5, 2009

Safina makes early exit in Beijing

Last week, Chang Kai-Chen knocked world number 1 and defending champion Dinara Safina out of the Toray Pan Pacific Open, defeating her 7-6, 4-6, 7-45. Now, in the second round of the China Open, it's wild card Zhang Shuai who has dismissed Safina, 7-5, 7-6.

That wasn't the only upset. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated 3rd seed Venus Williams 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Meanwhile, in a first-round match featuring two up-and-coming players, Alisa Kleybanova defeated wild card Yanina Wickmayer 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

Sabine Lisicki had to retire in her first round match against Francesca Schiavone. There is an intestinal illness that is making its way through the tour, and now Lisicki has it. It's unfortunate that she had to retire again, but at least it wasn't an injury this time.

8 comments:

Miss L said...

Chang Kai-Chen performed fantastically last week!

Unknown said...

For a blog so keen on the word "upset"... surprsingly no mention of the WTA world record being smashed? ;) x

Diane said...

Good point, Boris, but I have been ill with flu for days, and it's all I can do to keep up and to blog at all.

Poor Dinara. One more and she and Ivanovic will have a support group...

skivvy said...

I'm a little late, but get well soon Diane!

Diane said...

Thanks, Skivvy!

There's a respiratory thing that is spreading all over my community--very unpleasant.

Paul Ball said...

Get well soon, Diane! Hope it's not swine flu? Poor Dina's defeat was technically the biggest upset in WTA tour history, totally smashing the previous record held by Ana Ivanovic's loss to Coin :( Ah well... hopefully Safina can take back the number 1 tag in Doha? Serena should have been docked ranking points for her shocking outburst last month - the fine was peanuts to her... x

Diane said...

Thanks, Paul. No, it isn't swine flu, but it's another strain that can be quite debilitating for some people.

Unknown said...

Oh no! Surely not... the dreaded... MAN FLU !?!?