BMW MALAYSIAN OPEN Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia February 28-March 6, 2011 $220,000/International Hard/Outdoors
Monday, February 28, 2011
Singles - First Round Jelena Dokic (AUS) d. (1/WC) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 26 76(1) 64 (5) Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 75 61 (6) Ayumi Morita (JPN) d. Darya Kustova (BLR) 62 60 Zhang Shuai (CHN) d. Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 64 67(3) 64 Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) d. Alberta Brianti (ITA) 64 26 62 (WC) Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. Junri Namigata (JPN) 61 63
Doubles - First Round (4) Camerin/Kustova (ITA/BLR) d. Han/Ivanova (CHN/RUS) 62 64 Bovina/Bratchikova (RUS/RUS) d. Nakamura/Sema (JPN/JPN) 61 64 (WC) Safina/Voskoboeva (RUS/KAZ) d. (WC) Rompies/Tananta (INA/INA) 64 64
Singles Qualifying - Final Round (1) Anne Kremer (LUX) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 46 76(5) 63 (7) Tetiana Luzhanska (UKR) d. (4)
Kuala Lumpur, Monday, 28thFebuary 2011 – After a bright and sun shinny first half of the day there was gloomy weather in the evening as rain affected play in the opening day of the main draw at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Club.Top seed and world number five Francesca Schiavone of Italy was sent packing in the opening round of the BMW Malaysian Open 2011.
Her conqueror was Australia’s Jelena Dokic, a player who had beaten her in both their previous meetings. Dokic came back from a set down to register a 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 win in 119 minutes.
“I had a tough start to the match as I could not adjust my game to the flow and rhythm of the match, and Schiavone played with a lot more top speed. I made too many mistakes at the beginning of the match and although I got my act together as the match progressed and upped my game in order to improve my chances of taking the match it was too late to rescue the first set, said a pleased Dokic.
“As the game got on I managed to hit a couple of good shots and my serves were effective with a few aces in the process. Even when Schiavone got injured, I maintained my focus and to my advantage, Schiavone went for some shots and committed some unforced errors which enabled me to win the match. My aim now is to maintain my fitness and consistency which will allow me to achieve the high standards I have set for my game”, continued Dokic.
Schiavone was the early aggressor as she took a 3-0 lead before the heavens opened up and the match was stopped for an hour. Upon resumption, Schiavone continued where she left off to take the first set 6-3, displaying some great baseline strokes that had her opponent scurrying all over the court.
It was a different Dokic altogether in the second set as both players held their serves, forcing a tie break. And this was when everything started going wrong. Schiavone suffered the injury when attempting to retrieve the ball during the tie-break with the score 2-1 in favour of Dokic.
Though Schiavone picked herself up and did not seek for any medical attention immediately, it was obvious she was affected by the fall as her movements were hampered and missing was her normal gusty tempo of running after each ball. Dokic took full advantage of the situation to win the tie break 7-1 to force the decider.
However Schiavone underwent treatment for eight minutes before the set got underway and it was clear her right ankle was the cause of the discomfort as it was bandaged. In the decider, Dokic broke her opponents serve to lead 3-2 and there was no looking back for the Australian as she held serve to book her spot in the next round.
“My troubles started when I fell during the tie break. I was in tremendous pain and I could not run and it affected my play. But I decided to soldier on because retiring for me was not an option as I have enjoyed a lot of support during my time here at the tournament. And this was my way of thanking the supporters for their unwavering support, although staying on court somewhat aggravated my injury, which I suspect could be ligament damage. I will return to Milan for further treatment with my personal doctor.”
The Centre Court had earlier hosted the singles match between experienced Japanese player Junri Namigata and young and upcoming Poland’s Urszula Radwanska, younger sister of World number 10 Agnieszka Radwanska.
Namigata failed to capitalize on her experience as she lost 6 – 1, 6 – 3 to the continuously improving Radwanska.“I was pretty nervous before and during the match, though I am happy that I am playing here as it is really nice here. I want to emulate my sister Agnieszka’s success, though I hope to go about it my own way,” said an optimistic and positive Urszula.
The Japan versus Russia doubles match between Aiko Nakamura and Erika Sema versus Elena Bovina and Nina Bratchikova went in favour of the Russian pair as they triumphed 6 – 1, 6 – 4, despite a late comeback by the Japanese duo in the second set.
On Court one the brave, petite Indonesian pair of JessyRompies and LaviniaTananta took on the towering duo of Russian DinaraSafina and Kazakh Galina Voskoboeva. Those who expected the Indonesians to go down tamely were sadly mistaken as the feisty Indonesian refused to be overawed by the height and power of both Safina and Voskoboeva.
Lady luck was however on Safina and Voskoboeva’s side, as well as experience, forSafina and Voskoboevawon 6 – 4, 6 – 4. Safina commented, “Although we started playing doubles together more than ten years ago, this is only the second time we are playing at senior level and we are happy that we’ve gotten off to a winning start. We had good, tough opponents whom we never played before, but a combination of a few good serves from us and some unforced errors on the part of our opponent’s part turned the match in our favour”.
The BMW Malaysian Open 2011, a leg of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour – the world’s leading professional sport for women is being held from 28th February to 6th March 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. The tournament has 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams’ competing in a knockout style competition for the prize purse of USD 220,000.00.
Tickets for the tournament can be obtained from TicketPro through their website at www.ticketpro.com.my or by calling +603 7880 7999. For ticket prices and other information log on to the official website of the tournament at www.bmwmalaysianopen.com.
Kristina Kucova (SVK) 36 62 62 (5) Lu Jing-Jing (CHN) d. Jessica Moore (AUS) 62 63 Sun Shengnan (CHN) d. (8) Nudnida Luangnam (THA) 64 75
