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.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
DOMINANT JUVENTUS: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored braces as Juventus made a statement in their opener with a big win over Al-Ain Phil Foden on Wednesday scored two minutes into the match and later had an assist to lead Premier League powerhouse Manchester City past Moroccan club Wydad AC 2-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup. City broke Wydad’s five-man defensive line early when Foden scored on a deflected cross by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. Jeremy Doku doubled City’s lead in the 42nd minute off a corner-kick from Foden. Shortly afterward, an animal-rights advocate ran onto the field to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. The man was tackled by security workers and escorted out of Lincoln Financial Field, which was just over
RSS