Su-Wei Hsieh shocks Sania Mirza in the quarter-finals – PTT Pattaya Open 2012
Taiwanese qualifier, Su-Wei Hsieh, stomped over the Indian star, Sania Mirza, in straight sets at the PTT Pattaya Open 2012 on Friday. She jolted down a 7-5, 6-3 success against the world number 111 to advance into the final four at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International event held in Pattaya City, Thailand.
The Taiwanese rising star suffered the first blow in both sets but she quickly counterattacked to bag the match after breaking Mirza’s serve five times on the Thai hard courts. She took full advantage of the several double faults the Indian spilled and saved seven out of 10 breakpoints she came across.
Hsieh made a shaky entry at the Dusit Thani Hotel and gifted away her serve in the third game, eventually going 3-1 down. However, the Taiwanese maintained consistency in her game and held remaining serves after fending off five breakpoints she faced. Hsieh then sealed the opener with a 7-5 win after capitalising on another break chance in the last game.
The 26-year-old lost her track again in the second set and failed to keep her opening serve. However, she wiped out the proceeding three serves and took a 3-1 lead. Hsieh then exchanged a serve break and ultimately sealed the set by winning six games to three.
After outplaying the Indian in the 80-minutes long marathon, Hsieh not only took lead in their head-to-head series by 1-0 but also secured a place in the semi-finals.
Next challenger for the Taiwanese is the conqueror of the match between the defending champion, Daniela Hantuchova, and the eighth seed, Vania King.
Seventh seed, Sorana Cirstea, will join the Taiwanese in the last four after her top seeded rival, Vera Zvonareva, was forced to retire due to an injury.
The Russian seed made quick in-roads after earning two early serve breaks. Despite losing her serve in the seventh game, she swiped in the opener with a 6-2 win.
Cirstea fought back in the second set and quickly equalised the set scores with two breaks of serve.
The top seed was levelled at 2-2 in the final set when she felt severe pain, subsequently retiring from the tournament. The Romanian on the other end advanced into the next round.
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