Shuai Zhang and Mirjana Lucic progress in qualifiers of BNP Paribas Open 2011
World number 76 Shuai Zhang of China beat world number 122 Sophie Ferguson of Australia in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 in the first round qualifier at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday.
In the opening set, both players broke each other’s serve on a number of occasions. However, it was Zhang who broke her opponent three times to claim the set 6-4.
The 22-year-old hit 70 per cent of the first serves, winning 61 per cent of the points on them. In comparison, Ferguson hit 60 per cent of the first serves, winning 57 per cent of the points on them.
Zhang saved 5 of the 7 break points she faced. On the other hand, Ferguson managed to save just 2 of the 5 break points she faced.
The Chinese, seeded 7th in the qualifying draw, needed a single break of serve to win the second set. She broke the Australian in the 11th game of the second set and then held her own serve at 6-5, winning the set 7-5.
Zhang did not hit a single ace in the second set and committed 1 double fault. Her opponent hit a single ace and 5 double faults. The Chinese took 1 hour and 51 minutes to win the match.
Zhang will face unseeded Russian Anastasia Pivovarova, ranked 121st in the WTA Rankings, in the second round. The Russian defeated Pauline Parmentier of France in straight sets 6-0, 6-4 in the first round.
In another first round match, Croatian Mirjana Lucic prevailed over Maria Sanchez of US in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 to move to the second round of the qualifying draw.
In the first set, Lucic and Sanchez exchanged a service break in the first 10 games to level the set 5-5. The Croatian held her serve at 5-5 to take a 6-5 lead. She then broke her opponent in the 12th game of the opening set, winning it 7-5.
The 29-year-old served quite poorly in the first set, hitting 5 double faults and just 46 per cent of the first serves. In comparison, her opponent did not hit a single double fault.
Lucic could not save the only break point she faced. On the other hand, Sanchez saved 2 of the 4 break points.
The Croatian needed only one break of serve to win the second set. She broke her opponent in the 4th game and then held all her service games, winning the second set 6-3. The match lasted for 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Lucic is slated to face world number 119 Misaki Doi of Japan in the next round. The Japanese defeated South African Chanelle Scheepers, ranked 81st in the world, in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 in the first round.
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