Chang Kai-chen triumphed in an all-Taiwanese first-round showdown at the OEC Taipei WTA Challenger at the Taipei Arena yesterday.
The world No. 154 defeated wild-card Hsu Ching-wen 6-3, 6-3 in 69 minutes.
Chang saved all four break points and converted three of three, winning 67 of the 120 points contested to advance to a second-round clash with either China’s Zhang Kai-lin or Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Chang’s victory was the high spot of an otherwise disappointing day for the Taiwanese fans in the nation’s capital.
Earlier, Taiwanese wild-card Hsu Chieh-yu crashed out 6-2, 7-5 to Japanese qualifier Junri Namigata in 1 hour, 24 minutes.
Namigata, the world No. 289, saved four of five break points and converted four of eight, winning 77 of the 132 points contested to advance to a second-round clash against Ashleigh Barty after the Australian stunned third seed Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.
Hsu returned to the court in the first round of the doubles alongside Dalila Jakupovic, but she fared no better as the Taiwanese-Slovenian duo were beaten 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 by Evgeniya Rodina and Olga Govortsova in 1 hour, 19 minutes.
It was not Lee Pei-chi’s day either, as she was crushed 6-2, 6-1 by sixth seed Rodina in 65 minutes.
The Russian saved all four break points she faced against the Taiwanese and converted five of 11, winning 64 of the 103 points contested to advance to a second-round clash with Jakupovic.
Also advancing to the second round of the singles was former champion Alison van Uytvanck of Belgium, who crushed Hiroko Kuwata of Japan 6-0, 6-1; eighth seed Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, who defeated Japanese lucky loser Kyoka Okamura 6-4, 6-2; Julia Boserup of the US, who ousted Japan’s Riko Sawayanagi 6-2, 7-5; and Turkeys’ Ipek Soylu, who advanced when Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia retired.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. “We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there, deep down. We are so happy to win,” al-Attiyah said at the finish. Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of a Dacia, only had to avoid a final day slip-up to top the podium after bringing his career tally of stage wins to 50 on Friday. The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
RSS