Jaded Chilean's fortunes look up in first round of China Open
Fernando Gonzalez bought a jade stone for some much-needed luck in Beijing - and that's exactly what it brought him on the first day of the China Open.
The second-seeded Chilean edged out Alexander Peya of Austria 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of Beijing's biggest tennis tournament yesterday, ending a five-match losing streak after the Wimbledon Open in June.
"My lucky jade really helped me," said Gonzalez, the only seeded player on court yesterday.
"I feel great to win my first match since Wimbledon - I see it as a chance to turn around my luck on the tour."
Gonzalez, the Australian Open finalist, failed to win a singles match in North America this summer after his fourth-round Wimbledon finish saw his confidence plummet.
"I was just losing and losing over months," he said.
"But I tried hard to stay focused and look forward to future matches and prepared for the next opportunity, I am happy that my losing is over today."
Refreshed from a first-round exit at the US Open a week ago, Gonzalez hung on by the skin of his teeth.
In his first match in China, the Chilean staged a remarkable comeback, holding a strong challenge from world No 155 Peya before a partisan crowd.
Gonzalez, however, looked listless in the first set.
He was down 3-0 when Peya broke his first serve and conceded the set in 26 minutes with little resistance.
With people predicting he would repeat his lackluster summer, the Chilean managed to break serve in the third game of the second set before breaking twice in the deciding set to claim the victory.
"I know the first match is always tough," he said.
"I had five minutes to get used to the new courts and circumstances and then when I found my serve and strokes, things became a lot better."
Also delighting fans was home qualifier Zeng Shaoxuan, who won a chance to challenge fifth-seed Marcus Baghdatis after upsetting Nam Hyun-woo of South Korea 6-1, 6-3.
Zeng, ranked No 795, is slated to meet the world No 18 from Cyprus in his first ever second-round match at an ATP tournament.
"I played at my level," said China's National Games champion Zeng, who played only two ATP tournaments this year.
"Playing in front of home fans made me really nervous, but I am happy I win the match here and doesn't let them disappointed.
"I haven't played against a top player like Baghdatis, so I don't know if there is anything for me to prepare. I just want to stand on the center court and try to win some games."
(China Daily 09/11/2007 page22)
