Zheng dumps Ivanovic out of China tennis open
Saturday, 27 September 2008
BEIJING, Sept 26 (AFP): Former world number one Ana Ivanovic crashed out of the China Open Friday, beaten by home favourite Zheng Jie in a marathon quarter-final clash.
In the men's draw, defending champion and third seed Fernando Gonzalez lost to 137-ranked Bjorn Phau in three sets.
Ivanovic, the second seed here, lost 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-4 to her Wimbledon conqueror in a match lasting almost three hours.
The French Open champion had fought her way back into the match, taking the second set despite an error-strewn display.
But China's world number 30 was quickly into her stride in the third set, breaking the Ivanovic serve in the first game. Despite further breaks for both players, the tenacious Zheng held her nerve to take the decider.
In the men's draw, defending champion and third seed Fernando Gonzalez lost to 137-ranked Bjorn Phau in three sets.
Ivanovic, the second seed here, lost 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-4 to her Wimbledon conqueror in a match lasting almost three hours.
The French Open champion had fought her way back into the match, taking the second set despite an error-strewn display.
But China's world number 30 was quickly into her stride in the third set, breaking the Ivanovic serve in the first game. Despite further breaks for both players, the tenacious Zheng held her nerve to take the decider.