Riske knocks out Kerber to set up Zheng clash

(September 10, 2019) Alison Riske of the US upset former Wimbledon Champion and No.5 seed Angelique Kerber 5-7 6-4 7-6(6) in a close encounter on day two at the inaugural ICBC Credit Card Zhengzhou Open, a WTA Premier 700 event taking place at the Central Plains Tennis Center this week.

Riske, 2019 Wimbledon quarter-finalist, saved a match point in the three-set tussle which lasted two hours 50 minutes and saw 20 breaks of serve. For Kerber it marked a fifth straight defeat, dating back to Wimbledon. 

“It was nothing short of a battle. I knew going into it it was going to be extremely tough because Angie is an amazing player, especially for a first round it was really challenging. I’m really proud of the way I fought through it and I tried to stay present as much as I could,” said Riske.

Next up for the American will be a second round match against home hope Zheng Saisai, who defeated Netherlands’ Bibiane Schoofs 7-6(4) 6-1 earlier in the day.

Polona Hercog looked in good form as she overcame Chinese qualifier Wang Meiling 6-3 6-4 to book her spot in the second round where she will face top seed Karolina Pliskova in Wednesday’s night match.

There were also wins on day two for Kristina Mladenovic, who overcame Chinese wildcard Duan YingYing 6-2 6-3, fellow Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, who defeated Lu Jia-Jing 7-6(1) 6-1 and Ajla Tomljanovic, who dropped just two games as she saw off qualifier Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove 6-2 6-0 to set up a second round clash against No.3 seed Kiki Bertens.

Mladenovic will be back in action on Wednesday when she faces compatriot and former doubles partner Caroline Garcia in the third match on Centre Court.

“It’s the second round of a Premier event so everyone is playing really well. It’s always special to play a countrywoman but we already played once this year so it’s not new, you’ve got to face who the draw gets you to play. I’m very happy with my first round and looking forward to the next one,” said Mladenovic.

No.7 seed Petra Martic will kickstart proceedings on day three when she takes on Fiona Ferro in the first match on Centre Court. Second up will see Cornet play No.6 seed Sofia Kenin before Garcia and Mladenovic take to the court in the final match in the day session.

ICBC Credit Card Zhengzhou Open
September 9-15, 2019
Zhengzhou, China
$1,000,000

RESULTS – SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Singles – First Round
A. Riske (USA) d [5] [WC] A. Kerber (GER) 57 64 76(6)
P. Hercog (SLO) d [Q] M. Wang (CHN) 63 64
A. Cornet (FRA) d [Q] J. Lu (CHN) 76(1) 61
A. Tomljanovic (AUS) d [Q] L. Pattinama Kerkhove (NED) 62 60
S. Zheng (CHN) d B. Schoofs (NED) 76(4) 61
F. Ferro (FRA) d [WC] Z. Yang (CHN) 62 63
J. Ostapenko (LAT) d [Q] X. You (CHN) 63 06 62
K. Mladenovic (FRA) d [WC] Y. Duan (CHN) 62 63

Doubles – First Round
[1] N. Melichar (USA) / K. Peschke (CZE) d P. Chen (TPE) / Y. Hsieh (TPE) 62 63
S. Kenin (USA) / A. Muhammad (USA) d [WC] H. Guo (CHN) / Y. Yuan (CHN) 62 63

ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
CENTRE COURT start 2:00 pm
[7] P. Martic (CRO) vs F. Ferro (FRA)
A. Cornet (FRA) vs [6] S. Kenin (USA)
[8] C. Garcia (FRA) vs K. Mladenovic (FRA)

Not Before 7:00 pm
[1] K. Pliskova (CZE) vs P. Hercog (SLO)
Y. Wickmayer (BEL) / T. Zidansek (SLO) vs [4] S. Aoyama (JPN) / Z. Yang (CHN)

COURT 1 start 2:00 pm
K. Christian (USA) / S. Fichman (CAN) vs A. Rosolska (POL) / A. Tomljanovic (AUS)
L. Pattinama Kerkhove (NED) / B. Schoofs (NED) vs [2] Y. Duan (CHN) / S. Zheng (CHN)
After suitable rest – [3] D. Jurak (CRO) / A. Riske (USA) vs F. Ferro (FRA) / C. Paquet (FRA)

Hana-cupid Japan Women’s Open
September 9-15, 2019
Hiroshima, Japan
$250,000

RESULTS – SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Singles – First Round
[1] S. Hsieh (TPE) d [WC] R. Ozaki (JPN) 61 36 63
[Q] Z. Hives (AUS) d [4] A. Potapova (RUS) 67(4) 64 64
[WC] K. Nara (JPN) d [5] T. Maria (GER) 64 64
[7] S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP) d S. Cirstea (ROU) 62 36 62
[8] L. Siegemund (GER) d [Q] V. Savinykh (RUS) 64 61
N. Hibino (JPN) d [Q] L. Fernandez (CAN) 67(2) 76(5) 75
M. Buzarnescu (ROU) d [Q] V. Tomova (BUL) 61 64
V. Flink (RUS) d K. Kucova (SVK) 63 62
M. Doi (JPN) d [Q] J. Namigata (JPN) 46 75 62
[Q] P. Tig (ROU) d [WC] A. Shimizu (JPN) 64 62
C. McHale (USA) d G. Minnen (BEL) 62 64

Doubles – First Round
H. Carter (USA) / E. Shibahara (JPN) d J. Choi (KOR) / N. Han (KOR) 64 62
Y. Bonaventure (BEL) / G. Minnen (BEL) d [WC] E. Hayashi (JPN) / M. Uchijima (JPN) 76(5) 67(10) 10-7

ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
CENTRE COURT start 11:30 am
N. Hibino (JPN) vs [6] Z. Diyas (KAZ)
[1] S. Hsieh (TPE) vs P. Hon (AUS)
C. McHale (USA) vs [2] V. Kudermetova (RUS)
[1] E. Hozumi (JPN) / M. Ninomiya (JPN) vs O. Kalashnikova (GEO) / D. Kovinic (MNE)

COURT 2 start 11:30 am
[8] L. Siegemund (GER) vs [Q] P. Tig (ROU)
M. Kato (JPN) / S. Sanders (AUS) vs [3] M. Buzarnescu (ROU) / K. Srebotnik (SLO)
After Suitable Rest – M. Doi (JPN) / N. Hibino (JPN) vs [2] K. Flipkens (BEL) / A. Van Uytvanck (BEL)
After Suitable Rest – H. Kaji (JPN) / J. Namigata (JPN) vs P. Hon (AUS) / T. Maria (GER)

Jiangxi Open
September 9-15, 2019
Nanchang, China
$250,000

RESULTS – SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Singles – First Round
[1] S. Zhang (CHN) d A. Krunic (SRB) 63 63
N. Stojanovic (SRB) d [2] Y. Wang (CHN) 62 64
[4] E. Rybakina (KAZ) d A. Raina (IND) 62 46 63
[8] Kr. Pliskova (CZE) d S. Voegele (SUI) 75 63
L. Zhu (CHN) d [Q] P. Plipuech (THA) 62 62
S. Peng (CHN) d P. Badosa (ESP) 64 62
X. Wang (CHN) d [WC] X. Gao (CHN) 57 60 75
[Q] J. Fett (CRO) d K. Zavatska (UKR) 76(3) 26 61
S. Stosur (AUS) d A. Rodionova (AUS) 76(6) 63

Doubles – First Round
[3] D. Jakupovic (SLO) / J. Moore (AUS) d [WC] X. Sun (CHN) / W. Zheng (CHN) 64 63
[WC] X. Jiang (CHN) / Q. Tang (CHN) d V. Golubic (SUI) / R. Peterson (SWE) 62 26 10-8

ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
CENTRE COURT start 3:00 pm
[WC] F. Liu (CHN) vs [3] M. Linette (POL)

Not Before 4:00 pm
L. Arruabarrena (ESP) vs [6] V. Golubic (SUI)
B. Gumulya (INA) / R. Van Der Hoek (NED) vs [2] S. Peng (CHN) / S. Zhang (CHN)

COURT 1 start 3:00 pm
A. Raina (IND) / E. Silva (GBR) vs [Alt] P. Plipuech (THA) / F. Xun (CHN)

Not Before 4:00 pm
[5] R. Peterson (SWE) vs [Q] J. Fett (CRO)

COURT 2 start 3:00 pm
A. Danilina (KAZ) / E. Lechemia (FRA) vs [4] A. Guarachi (CHI) / G. Olmos (MEX)

Not Before 4:00 pm
[7] K. Kozlova (UKR) vs D. Jakupovic (SLO)

COURT 3 start 3:00 pm
A. Rodionova (AUS) / S. Santamaria (USA) vs N. Dzalamidze (RUS) / E. Rybakina (KAZ)