Zhang knocks out former Hobart International champion

Hobartinternational.com.au

Rising Chinese talent Shuai Zhang has knocked compatriot and 2005 Hobart International champion Jie Zheng out of the 2014 Hobart International.

Zhang defeated Zheng 6-3 6-1 in the opening match on Court Events Tasmania on day two.

Centre Court
S. Stosur (AUS)	6	6	7
M. Brengle (USA)	7	1	6
C. Dellacqua (AUS)	6	6
A. Van Uytvanck (BEL)	4	4
M. Erakovic (NZL)	4	1
K. Flipkens (BEL)	6	6
Court 3
S. Soler-Espinosa (ESP)	7	4	4
K. Mladenovic (FRA)	6	6	6
M. Niculescu (ROU)	6	6
M. Rybarikova (SVK)	2	0
A. Mestach (BEL)	1	1
G. Muguruza (ESP)	6	6
Court Heart FM
A. Cadantu (ROU)	6	1
O. Rogowska (AUS)	7	6
A. Beck (GER)	5	3
B. Jovanovski (SRB)	7	6
E. Cabeza Candela (ESP)	7	6
K. Knapp (ITA)	5	4
Court Events Tasmania
A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)	3	2
A. Riske (USA)	6	6
J. Zheng (CHN)	3	1
S. Zhang (CHN)	6	6
Y. Meusburger (AUT)	5	2
K. Zakopalova (CZE)	7	6
L. Robson (GBR)	6	0
Y. Wickmayer (BEL)	4	2

- See more at: http://www.hobartinternational.com.au/scores/completed-matches#sthash.UGCA6g8F.dpuf

The world no. 51 only lost nine points on serve during the first round match, and never gave her more-experienced opponent a chance to get into the match.

Not even a rain delay, which forced the players off court for two hours early in the second set, could derail Zhang’s game.

On return from the rain delay, Zhang quickly won four straight games to wrap up the match.

“I think for me it was okay. It has been windy here and I knew rain could come. I was prepared,” Zhang said.

Zhang’s performance should come as no surprise after a stellar finish to the 2013 season. She won her first WTA title in September and recorded 19 wins from her final 23 matches of the season. It helped her clash her ranking from outside the top 100 in August to finish the year at a career-high mark of 51.

The 24 year-old said she worked hard in the off-season in a bid to keep this winning form.

“I’m trying to keep going,” she said.

Zhang will play either seventh seed Klara Zakopalova from Czech Republic or Austrian Yvonne Meusburger in the second round. They play their first round match later today
- See more at: http://www.hobartinternational.com.au/2014/01/zhang-knocks-out-former-hobart-international-champion#sthash.SgRWdfst.dpuf