Jie Zheng defeats Kimiko Date-Krumm in the qualifying 2nd round – Rogers Cup 2011
Jie Zheng and Kimiko-Date-Krumm had never contested against each other in their professional career; making their meeting on the hard courts of the Rexall Centre, York University, for the qualifying draw of the Rogers Cup 2011
the first ever. The Chinese Zheng qualified to the main draw of the event by over powering her Japanese (Date-Krumm) opponent in 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win.
Both the players had a poor accuracy but the 28-year-old Chinese struck one less double fault than her opponent’s and also managed to smash an ace.
The world number 82 (Zheng) won the pitch and with a powerful serve won 15 out of 25 service points, making it a grand 60% win against the world number 53 (Date-Krumm) who bagged 17 of 37 total service points of the first set.
The Japanese struck 7 break points out which she was only able to save 4 whereas, Zheng was unable to save the only break point on her serve she was able to win 43% of her break points.
Zheng’s total return points were a commendable 54% while Date-Krumm was only capable of winning a mere 40% of her total return points and were 14% fewer than her opponent’s. Hence, Zheng won the set against Krumm by achieving
56% of total set points.
The world number 57 could not bear the loss and bounced back into the second set by smashing an ace and in the next few moments struck a line fault.
Although, Date-Krumm had an average serve of 54% she had a strong back hand with a swing and with an expert accuracy rebounded almost all her opponents’ shots. Therefore, she won an ostentatious 73% of her total return points against
Zheng, who was only able to win 46% of her total return points.
Amidst the second set, the Chinese defence failed as she was unable to save the four break points on her serve and was only able to capitalize on 25% of her break points. Mean while, the Japanese capitalized on a 100% of her rival’s
break points and was able to save 3 of the 4 break points on her serve. Hence, she won the second with almost twice as many points as her Chinese opponent’s.
The 28-year-old served for first for the third set, with her expertise won 60% of her break points and endorsed only a single break point to her opponent.
By the third set both the players had won a set and this was the final deciding set of the match. Therefore, both the players displayed their utmost efforts in winning the set, and even though it was close call, the Chinese upset
the world number 53 Date-Krumm’s win.
Jie Zheng qualified to the main draw of the Rogers Cup 2011 in one hour and 58 minutes by accomplishing 59% of total service points and achieving 53% of total points.
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