Ksenia Pervak meets Chan Yung-jan in the qualifying round of the BNP Paribas Open
Tenth seed qualifier Ksenia Pervak of Russia will face Chang Yung-jan of China in the qualifying round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California on Monday. Being a seeded player, Pervak is considered to be the favourite to qualify for the main
draws.
The 19-year-old Russian hasn’t won a single WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) title in her five-year professional career. Pervak is considered to be one of the most promising upcoming tennis players and her game is admired by many. Currently ranked at number
88, Pervak has proven to be a tough competitor at times.
Pervak has failed to perform in the Grand Slam events, defeated in either the first round of the main draws or the qualifiers. She reached her first WTA Tour semi-final at Banka Koper Slovvenia Open last year facing Johanna Larsson but retired from the match
because of a right wrist injury.
The Russian teenager kicked off 2011 at the Brisbane International Championships, where she reached the third round qualifiers before Anastasia Pivovarova defeated her in a hard fought match. Although Pervak’s recent form depicts less about the potential
of the youngster, her abilities can’t be denied at all. Her left-handed angling serve is her prime weapon; she can create some serious problems for Chang with her cross-court left-handed serve and forehand smashes.
21-year-old Chang is also searching for her first WTA title at Indiana Wells. The World number 115 had a brilliant recent year as she made it to the second round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon. She suffered a defeat in the third round of the US Open
at the hands of the world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
Despite being seeded at number ten in the qualifiers, Pervak’s recent form depicts her struggle against her opponents. Although Chang is far behind the Russian in the world rankings, her last year’s victories at the Grand Slams are certainly a confidence
booster for her.
The other qualifying match will feature Jamie Hampton of the United States, who will take on Netherland’s Arantxa Rus to make a spot in the main draws.
Left-handed Rus got in to the spot-light during her Australian Open run this year. The Dutch won three qualifying matches to enter the main draw at the Grand Slam. She surprisingly defeated the World number 42 Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the first round of
the Aussie Open, only to be defeated by the Grand Slam winner champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the next round.
Rus is playing her second WTA tournament of the year at Indiana wells and will be hoping to carry on the momentum she got from the Australian Open. The Dutch’s strength lies in her serve. She delivers the typical left-handed serve angling across the court,
stretching every bit of her opponent in the game. Hampton needs to be very agile to cut down the angles of her serve and has to be very strong on her return game if she wants to advance to the qualifying round.
21-year-old American Hamilton seems a bleak contestant for Rus. Hampton begun her professional tennis career barely two years ago and lacks experience. She played her first US Open in 2010 and couldn’t make it past the first round.
Rus should have little difficulty in toppling the American in the qualifying matchup; all she requires is a good aggressive start.
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