2011 BMW Malaysian Open: Ayumi Morita, Shuai Zhang advance to the second round
Ayumi Morita defeats Darya Kustova in straight sets 6-2, 6-0
Japanese tennis pro Ayumi Morita scored an easy victory over her Belarusian opponent Darya Kustova, defeating the player in straight sets 6-2, 6-0. Morita, who is currently ranked World Number 57, took just a little over an hour and two minutes to undo her
opponent.
Morita seemed to be in top form for the Malaysian tournament, entering the first round with guns blazing. She stayed on top of Kustova almost constantly, refusing to let the Belarusian player break through. Both players scored two aces in the first set,
but Kustova helped Morita’s cause by committing a double fault. She was also unable to save three of four break points in the set. Morita won the set 6-2.
The second set was an even easier win for the Japanese player, who scored two aces. Despite the fact that she committed two double faults, Ayumi Morita stayed on top and saved all four break points. She also converted three of five break points against Kustova.
Morita managed to win an impressive 65 percent of the total points in the set, winning the match 6-2, 6-0.
Morita and Kustova have competed against each other once before at the 2010 Indian Wells tournament. The Japanese pro defeated Kustova in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the round of last 64 on that occasion. This victory brings their head-to-head record to
2-0 for Ayumi Morita.
Shuai Zhang conquers Kai-Chen Chang in three sets 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4
Chinese tennis pro Shuai Zhang defeated Kai-Chen Chang of Chinese Taipei in three tough sets at the 2011 BMW Malaysian Open, winning the first round match 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4. It took Zhang, who is 22 years old, two hours and almost forty-five minutes to win
the match.
The match was quite competitive, with the players exchanging volleys in an attempt to take the lead. However, Zhang managed to take the first set by committing less double faults and converting two of a total of five break points. She scored five points
more than Chang. In the second set, Kai-Chen Chang seemed to recover from her dismal beginning in the first set. She and Zhang continued to fight in the most difficult set of the match, breaking each other a total of three times. Ultimately, Chang won the
set with four points more than Zhang.
Despite this, Zhang regained her momentum in the next round to undo her opponent, scoring an ace in the bargain. She won the match 6-4, 6-7(3), 4-6.
Shuai Zhang will now compete against Ayumi Morita, who is seeded sixth at this event.
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