Petrova romps past local wildcard in China Open first round
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Number 13 seed Nadia Petrova of Russia eased past local wildcard player Han Xinyun on Sunday in the opening round of 2010 China Open tennis tournament.
The 28-year-old Russian dominated the match from the very beginning, dispatching Han 6-2, 6-2 at the Moon Court of the National Tennis Center.
"I played pretty clean tennis today," said Petrova in the post-match conference. "I served well. I put the pressure when it's necessary. I broke early in the beginning of both sets, so I'm very happy with my performance and looking forward then for the next one already."
The 13th seed managed a break in the opening game and broke Han again in the seventh to battle to a 5-2 before closing up the opening set 6-2 in 32 minutes.
Although playing on the home court, the 144 ranked Han, 20, still appeared nailbiting in front of a bull-like Petrova in the second set, which saw the Russian raced to a quick 5-1 advantage.
"I was playing a girl much younger than me, just coming on the tour still out of top 100, so I have more experience behind my shoulders than she is. I just felt much more confident out there, and I have been playing better tennis today," said Petrova.
"The miracle only waits for people who are prepared," wrote Han on her blog before the match. But a well-prepared Han still failed to stage a miracle.
Petrova's powerful serves poised great trouble to her opponent. Though only sending two aces, the Russian's winning rate on first serve was up to 88 percent, while Han merely gained one breaking opportunity and failed to convert it.
"I know her serve is very powerful and tricky, and I tried to be prepared when she's serving. But it was quite difficult to return the powerful shots and the wind today made the ball go faster sometimes," said the left-handed Han after the match.
Han's complaints on the weather were echoed by her opponent. "The conditions are quite difficult today, and it's very difficult to play your best tennis in this kind of weather conditions."
Petrova will take on Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine in the second round. The latter smashed Chinese teenager Zhou Yimiao 6-2, 6-0 on Saturday.
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