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Chinese wildcard Zhang out of China Open
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-08 17:59

BEIJING: After upsetting world No. 1 Dinara Safina, Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai didn't continue her top form as she crashed out of the US$4.5 million China Open WTA tournament on Thursday.

Chinese wildcard Zhang out of China Open
Zhang Shuai of China hits a shot during her match against Marion Bartoli of France at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 8, 2009. [Xinhua]

Marion Bartoli of France, seeded 14th, spent one and half an hour to defeat the 20-year-old Chinese rising star 6-1, 6-4 in the third round.

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Zhang started poorly in the opening set while losing all her serve games. She also made four break opportunities but too many unforced errors failed her efforts.

Bartoli accomplished another break in the seventh game, winning the first set 6-1.

In the second set, Bartoli continued her stable performance by powering three aces.

The 14th seed broke in the fourth game to take the lead 3-1, though Zhang fought back to 3-3 after saving several break points in the sixth game.

In the tenth game, Zhang failed to get point due to Bartoli's fierce base line attack and the 25-year-old French broke again to win the second set 6-4.