Chang Kai-chen won a Taiwanese showdown at the Jiangxi Women’s Tennis Open in Nanchang, China, yesterday, before top-seeded cross-strait duo Chan Chin-wei and Wang Yafan advanced to the quarter-finals of the doubles.
Chang defeated fellow Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei, seeded fourth at the WTA 125K event, 6-3, 6-3 in 67 minutes on the hard courts at the Nanchang International Sports Center.
World No. 191 Chang saved one of four break points and converted six of eight against her Taiwanese rival, ranked 110th, who had trouble with her serve.
Hsieh produced 17 double faults and had a first-serve percentage of just 38, while Chang won 68 of the 120 points contested to advance to a second-round clash with Zhang Kai-lin of China, who defeated Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia 6-3, 6-3.
Also advancing to the second round of the singles yesterday were fifth seed Duan Ying-ying, seventh seed Wang and Liu Chang, all of China. Zhang Ling of Hong Kong and Japanese qualifier Erika Sema also advanced.
In the doubles, Wang returned to the court alongside Taiwan’s Chan to defeat Arina Rodionova of Australia and Sabina Sharipova of Uzbekistan.
After a slow start when the top seeds fell 2-0 behind, the cross-strait duo went on to win 12 of the final 14 games to complete a 6-3, 6-1 victory in 59 minutes.
Chang also returned in the first round of the doubles late yesterday, as the Taiwanese and Zheng Saisai of China, seeded third, completed a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Chinese pairing Liu and Lu Jia-jing in 71 minutes.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s tennis sisters Chan Yung-jan and Chan Hao-ching are to team up again in a series of upcoming doubles matches in a bid to vie for the qualifications for the Rio 2016 Olympics, Chan Hao-ching said yesterday.
Chan Yung-jan and Chan Hao-ching rank 22nd and 33rd in women’s doubles respectively.
Chan Hao-ching said at a promotional event held by their sponsor that they hope the partnership will give them the opportunity to qualify for next year’s Olympics.
Additional reporting by CNA
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