Sun Tiantian contradicted descriptions of her win over Serena
Williams at the
China Open WTA tournament yesterday as a "miracle." She had
ended the fourth seed's defending campaign with an upsetting
victory in straight sets.
"Miracle? No, I don't think so. The miracle for me happened last
year," said the 24-year-old who made history for China 13 months
ago in Athens by winning the women's doubles Olympic gold
medal.
Sun, currently 127th on the WTA Tour rankings, overcame
ninth-ranked Williams 6-2, 7-6 (7) to reach the quarterfinals of
the US$585,000 hardcourt event, following her compatriot Peng Shuai
to be the only other Chinese to make last eight so far at the China
Open.
Breaking her former world number one opponent in the very first
game of the match, doubles specialist Sun served and received
excellently throughout the match as well as displaying impressive
baseline play.
"I'm satisfied with everything I did on court today," said Sun,
who entered the main draw with a wildcard. "The best part was to
contest the former world number one, though she's obviously
uncomfortable with her leg or ankle, which did hold back her
performance."
"It's a chance for me to boost my confidence for better results
in future. I had many chances before but only this time I caught
it," she said.
"My main goal for this season is to raise my position in the
rankings to the top 100, and this victory may help a lot in
realizing it," she added.
Next Sun will face the winner between Japanese Aiko Nakamura and
Russian Maria Kirilenko, who will play on Thursday.
"I don't know who will be my next opponent and maybe tomorrow I
can spare some time to watch their match," said Sun.
Earlier, China's highest ranked female player Peng Shuai scraped
through to the quarters after overcoming a slow start to beat
Mariana Diaz-Oliva of Argentina 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/0) in two hours
and 27 minutes, the first player to clinch a spot in the
quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Zheng Jie upset Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and
Montenegro 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 to hand the sixth seed first-round
elimination. Zheng will next meet Marta Domachowska of Poland, who
outclassed American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 6-3.
(Xinhua News Agency and China Daily September 22,
2005)
