Dokic Dumped Out of China Open

Author: 
Agencies
Publication Date: 
Wed, 2004-09-22 03:00

BEIJING, 22 September 2004 — Jelena Dokic ran true to the miserable form she has shown this season, falling 6-3, 6-0 to Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn in the first round of the China Open yesterday.

After struggling with unforced errors and Tamarine’s strong serve in the first set, a visibly dejected Dokic fell apart in the second, hanging her head and losing the will to chase the ball.

The former world No. 4 from Serbia and Montenegro has had a nightmare tennis year in 2004, losing in the first round of the three grand slam tournaments she has played and dropping to 43rd in the rankings.

In other first-round matches, Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland beat Puerto Rico’s Kristina Brandi 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 while Russian Vera Douchevina overcame Anca Barna of Germany 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

It was a mixed day for Chinese hopefuls with Li Na beating Australia’s Nicole Pratt 6-3, 6-2 but Sun Tiantian overpowered 6-4, 6-2 Croatia’s Sanda Mamic.

Li, who entered the tournament in the last round of qualifiers on Monday, will face newly-crowned US Open champion and second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round.

The Russian is on a hot streak after winning her first grand slam title at Flushing Meadows and the Bali WTA event over the last two weeks.

Top seed Serena Williams takes to the court today for the first time ever in China, facing a challenge from Dinara Safina in the second round. The former world No. 1 will be trying to forget a bitter quarterfinal defeat at the US Open against longtime rival Jennifer Capriati, a contest marred by several controversial lines calls and decisions from the chair.

Williams along with Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova will be the leading lights on court at the Beijing tennis center, with both trying to make up ground after recent setbacks. The 17-year-old Siberian-born Sharapova is fighting to raise her level after going five wins, four defeats since her July triumph on the grass. The second seed begins in Beijing against fellow Russian Tatiana Panova.

In-Form Hewitt Takes Aim at Roddick

Beaten US Open finalist Lleyton Hewitt believes he can overhaul big-hitting American Andy Roddick before the end of the year and claim second place in the world tennis rankings. Hewitt, in Perth to play for Australia in their Davis Cup world group relegation tie with Morocco starting on Friday, enjoyed a 16-match unbeaten streak before losing to clear-cut No. 1 Roger Federer at Flushing Meadow earlier this month.

The 23-year-old former Wimledon champion had slipped to 17th in the world rankings before re-establishing himself among the elite players over the last 12 months with four tournament wins to claim third place.

Hewitt lost to Federer in three grand slam titles but believes he has the form to take him past Roddick before the end of the year. He is currently just 36 points adrift of the American in the ATP Champions Race with tournaments in Madrid and Paris to come followed by the season-ending Masters Cup in Houston.

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