Tennis

Battle royal for women's title

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-30 08:03

From left to right: Li Na of China, Russia's Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams of the US and Dane Caroline Wozniacki headline the women's field at the Oct 2-10 China Open in Beijing. Agence France-Presse

Despite withdrawals of Serena and Clijsters, field still impressive

BEIJING - The absences of Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters have added extra suspense to the women's section of the China Open, which begins on Saturday.

The Belgian, who won the US Open singles title earlier this month, withdrew from the tournament with a foot injury and her disappointment was evident in an e-mail she sent to organizers.

"I have to quit this year because I can't recover as soon as I am supposed to from the surgery I took after the US Open. I am sorry for all of my Asian fans and look forward to next year's tournament," said the 27-year-old mother of one.

Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm, who turned 40 on Sept 28 - the day she stunned Russian favorite Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Pan Pacific Open - will move into the main draw instead of the Belgian.

Before Clijsters' withdrawal, world No 1 Williams chose to prolong her convalescence from tendon surgery after Wimbledon and skipped the China Open.

Upgraded to one of the highest-level WTA tournaments last year, the China Open has become the most important event before the season-ending championship in Doha. The winner in Beijing will claim 1,000 points and improve her chances of capturing the No 1 crown at the end of the season.

The absence of those two stars has opened up the draw for the other competitors and local fans are in for a tennis treat.

Chinese Grand Slam semifinalist Li Na, who quit the Pan Pacific Open with a stomach ache on Monday, is eager to perform well in Beijing and earn the requisite number of points to qualify for the Doha tournament. She has promised to donate all the prize money she wins in Beijing to Yushu, a city in Qinghai province that was rocked by a massive earthquake in April. She did the same at the Madrid Open in May.

"Of course, pressure comes when you play at home, but I am looking at it to motivate me and push me as far as possible," said Li.

Meanwhile, several former world No 1 players, including Venus Williams, Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic, will be out to win the title and show they remain forces to be reckoned with.

However, rising stars like Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka will also make their presences felt.

The organizing committee released the seedings on Monday and Wozniacki, the Danish world No 2, leads the women's side while 23-year-old Serbian Novak Djokovic tops the men's draw. Li is the only ranked Chinese at No 10.

China Daily

 

 

 

(China Daily 09/30/2010 page22)