Shuai Peng – Seeded wildcard at Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions 2011
Following Marion Bartoli in Bali next week is the world number sixteen and the number two Chinese, Shuai Peng. With no title win at any International event in the season, Shuai Peng was given a wildcard for an appearance at the 2011 Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions, making this year her debut appearance.
Although Peng has played in Bali before, however, she last appeared in 2008 when it was a Tier III event and not the season ending tournament alongside the Sony Ericsson Championships.
Despite having won no titles in the season, Peng has shown a consistent performance throughout the season.
Starting the year Down Under, the Chinese star put in back to back semi-final appearances at Auckland and Hobart losing to Yanina Wickmayer and Bethanie Mattek-Sands respectively. She also made it to the fourth round of the season opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open with a huge upset win in the second round where she defeated former world number one, Jelena Jankovic in straight sets.
As the hard courts swing continued, Peng remained consistent in her performances as she put in three quarterfinal appearances. Starting with Pattaya City, Peng lost to Vera Zvonareva in the final eight. Following another final eight appearance in Doha, Peng eventually bowed out of the event against Bartoli. Her third straight quarterfinal appearance came at Indian Wells where she eventually lost Maria Sharapova though she did secure a win over top ten and higher ranked compatriot, Li Na in the second round of the event. The icing on the cake for Peng was her semi-final appearance at Charleston. No cake is complete without a cherry. Peng’s cherry for the season came in Brussels when she made it all the way to the final after defeating Zvonareva in the semi-final, before losing to world number one, Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark.
Following her unsuccessful final run, Peng became the second Chinese to be ranked inside the top 20 as she reached her career high ranking of 14.
Albeit the Chinese failed to make any impact at any of the Grand Slams, she made it to the fourth round of all save one. Following a fourth round loss to Pole Agnieszka Radwanska at the 2011 Australian Open, Peng made a third round appearance at the 2011 Roland Garros losing to eventual runner up, Francesca Schiavone. The Chinese strengthened her standing in the season with fourth round appearances at 2011 Wimbledon where she lost to Sharapova and at Flushing Meadows where she lost to Flavia Pennetta.
A new comer to the field of elite professionals, the Chinese is not without her arsenal. A strong right handed player with immense strength, perseverance and stamina, the Chinese is expected to make an impact in her debut appearance at Bali.
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