China

Li Na flies host nation's flag after Peng Shuai's singles loss

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-05 08:47

BEIJING - Local favorite Peng Shuai crashed out of the China Open on Monday, leaving Li Na as the only Chinese singles player in the women's field.

Peng, a quarterfinalist here last year and ranked 65th in the world, lost 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to Italy's Sara Errani. She later bounced back, teaming up with Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan to oust Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova and Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva.

Peng said a lack of rest was the reason behind her loss. After reaching the women's doubles final at last week's WTA event in Tokyo, Peng had to get up at 5:30 am on Sunday to catch a flight to Beijing.

"My loss in singles was somewhat related to my physical tiredness," she said.

Her fatigue did not carry over into doubles, though. Peng and Date Krumm won 7-6 (6), 6-3.

"Date Krumm has become famous than she was more than 10 years ago, when I just started playing tennis," said Peng, 24. "I never thought that one day I could play with her, and I am very happy with our cooperation."

Date Krumm returned to professional tennis last year after 12 years in retirement.

China's Sun Shengnan lost 6-1, 6-2 to No 15 seed Shahar Peer of Israel, leaving ninth-seeded Li as the host country's last hope in singles.

Monday's play also saw two high seeds depart. Sixth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland bowed out after losing 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 to Germany's Angelique Kerber, while No 5 seed Jelena Jankovic fell 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 against Serbian compatriot Bojana Jovanovski.

Radwanska revealed she will sit out the rest of this season and could miss the Australian Open in January because of a stress fracture in her foot.

"I have an excuse for losing today. I realized how serious the injury was just before I came to Asia to play in Tokyo and Beijing. I'll be pulling out for the rest of this year," the world No 11 said.

Elsewhere in the women's draw, former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic enjoyed a good day as she defeated No 11 seed Marion Bartoli of France 6-2, 6-3.

On the men's side, fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych and No 6 seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain both surprisingly lost to lower-ranked German opponents.

Berdych, the world No 7 and a Wimbledon finalist, lost 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to qualifier Michael Berrer. World No 8 Verdasco ended his short stay in Beijing with a 6-2, 7-5 defeat against Philipp Kohlschreiber.