Kai-Chen Chang stuns Laura Robson in the quarter-finals – HP Japan Open 2012
Eighth seeded, Laura Robson, received a three-set shocker at the hands of the Chinese Taipei native, Kai-Chen Chang, in the quarter-finals of the HP Japan Women’s Open 2012 held at the hard courts of Osaka. The Chinese senior consolidated
a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4) win on Friday.
The 21-year-old Chinese tennis professional had an average start in the initial set and both the players effortlessly levelled down the score line three times i.e. in the fourth and sixth games respectively. Chang quickly picked
up pace and assertively held the remaining serves, plucking the following games and didn't give her rival a single chance to edged forward. Due to her consistency, she was able to cash the last two serve break points, clinching the opener with a 6-4 lead.
The right-hander British junior successfully jumped in the second set with a strong resolve to avenge her former loss. She struggled hard to level down the score line after every alternate game, until the sixth one. She cashed
the lone serve break presented to her completely crumbled her competition’s assurance to win. Chang completely proved useless and gleefully concluded the set with a 6-3 score line.
The final set proved to be a tough deal for the participants and both of them desperately battled hard to attain the winning spot. They displayed their experience by preserving their consistency and warded off the entire break
out faced by them. The score line squared down after every consequent game and the Taipei native penned down her 7-6(4) win after a close tiebreaker round.
The British junior picked the lead with a relatively better initial serve of 65 percent with 15 of 17 first and five of nine second delivery points. She capitalized on one of the serve break presented and her challenger was unable
to secure even one. The Chinese right-hander pocked 57 percent first serve precision with 12 of 16 points.
The world number 134, Chang, manifested 71 percent initial serve precision with 22 of 25 first and six of 10 second delivery points. In comparison to that, her rival secured 74 percent serve accuracy with 21 of 28 points.
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