Fierce Pierce too strong for exhausted Peng
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-08 05:37

As a result of that tied schedule, Peng came out flat on Saturday as Pierce utilized her searing ground strokes to control the points throughout.

China's Shuai Peng reacts to a line call during her quarter-final match against Belgium's Kim Clijsters at the San Diego Classic in Carlsbad, California, August 5, 2005. Peng defeated Clijsters 6-4 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals. [Reuters]

"I was really tired from last night after playing singles and doubles within about four hours of eachother," Peng admitted. "Today, I was playing the first match and I was so tired."

The run to her career-first semi-final included some stunning wins, most notably a second-round upset over world No 6 Elena Dementieva and a quarter-final defeat of 10th-ranked Kim Clijsters, whose 26-match win streak on the United States hardcourts was finally brought to an end.

Peng's wins over the Russian and the Belgian were the second and third Top 10 victories of her career, after defeating then-No 3 Anastasia Myskina en route to a semi-final finish at Sydney in January.

Despite Saturday's loss, however, Peng's celebrations are just beginning. She is predicted to be the highest-ranked Chinese player in WTA Tour history on Monday, rising to No 32 in the world, surpassing countrywoman Li Na's recent record of No 33.

"She's probably one of the hardest hitters I've played," said Clijsters after her loss to Peng on Friday. "She hits the ball incredibly clean, especially on her backhand side. She played good today, unbelievable."

"On a short cross court, she can flick it and there aren't too many girls that can do that. She's a great player," she added.

"I think she has a great future ahead of her. She's been the best player I've played in a long time. I think she can definitely become top three."

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