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US Open joy for Li, despair for Mirza

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-04 11:02

NEW YORK: Asian players had contrasting fortunes in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday with China's Li Na coasting through and India's Sania Mirza enduring one of the worst defeats of her career.

Li Na of China hits a return to Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal during their match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York September 2, 2009.[Agencies]

The 27-year-old Li, the 18th seed and a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist, kept her cool against tempestuous Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito to win 6-1, 6-3.

That set up a third-round clash with Maria Kirilenko of Russia or 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in a quarter of the draw thrown open by a knee injury to third seed Venus Williams.

"I was a little bit nervous this morning but I was ready when I got to the court," Li said. "It was not an easy match and she was more aggressive in the second set. I thought it would take three sets or a long two sets so I am really happy to have won like that."

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Mirza's campaign came to a dismal end when she was whitewashed 6-0, 6-0 by 10th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy.

The match lasted just 50 minutes and was one of the worst defeats of her career at a tournament where she achieved her big breakthrough with a run into the fourth round in 2005.

Pennetta was dominant in every category, committing just 10 unforced errors to Mirza's 28 and hitting 20 winners to her opponent's six.

Reuters/AFP