SCHIAVONE REACHES SECOND ROUND, WHILE NA LI LIMPS OUT

by Barry Wood

Francesca Schiavone made a winning start at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic on Monday when she overcame Indonesia’s Sandy Gumulya 6-2 6-0. The score sounds easy, but it took the fifth seeded Italian one hour 16 minutes to overcome a plucky opponent. Gumulya made a strong start, breaking to lead 2-0 and then holding a point to lead 3-0 before Schiavone broke back by forcing an error.

Although she continued to rally well and often used her powerful forehand to good effect, the inexperienced Gumulya lacked the consistency she need to maintain her challenge. But Schiavone still had to fight, surviving two break points as she served out the first set and saving another break point before holding for 4-0 in the second set.

"I think she’s a good player," Schiavone said. "She made an impressive start and kept going, but I played a high level so it was not easy for her. But I think she can play in the professional ranks and be in the top 100. I did a good match. At the end maybe the experience made the difference. From 3-2 in the first set until 3-0 in the second I played very well, and she played some points good and some points less (well)."

The tournament lost one of its biggest stars when China’s Na Li was forced to withdraw with a swollen knee. After playing in the bronze medal match at the Beijing Olympics she flew to New York to play the US Open, and then returned to Beijing before flying on to Bali. Li believes the long flights aggravated the knee, which required surgery in March this year, and she is now deciding whether to seek treatment in Bali or back home in China. She described the injury this week as "uncomfortable" rather than painful.

In other matches involving Indonesian players, Lavinia Tananta replaced Li but was soundly beaten 6-2 6-3 by Marta Domachowska, and Indonesia’s third player in the draw, Ayu Fani Damayanti, fell 6-2 6-1 to Akgul Amanmuradova.

China’s Shuai Peng also had an easy victory, beating Ayumi Morita of Japan 6-2 6-1, and although Tamira Paszek of Austria had to fight harder against Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld she came through 7-5 6-4. The toughest match of the day was the battle between Meng Yuan of China and Yaroslava Shvedova from Kazakhstan. It lasted just eight minutes and two seconds short of three hours, contained 18 breaks of serve, and finished with Yuan winning 5-7 6-2 7-5.

Comments:

Adji Soedibjo | 08 Sep 2008 08:33 pm

1 - Good decision by Kevin Livesey not to give wild card main draw for local players...the quality of Indonesian players is still in 10K level...That's the fact...Hello, Pelti???

Andre Janis | 08 Sep 2008 11:22 pm

2 - The strangest qualifying draw ever! Look at the players seeded No. 4 to 8. They are ranked 560, 774, 821, 841, and 9,999!!! OMG! Cant'be lower than that? This is worse than the qualifying draw in Tsukuba or Noto 25K. You don't need to compare with the qualifying draw of Athens 100K. It just way to faarrr!!!

Barteks_ | 09 Sep 2008 03:03 am

3 - Domachowska won ;) come on!!!

ethan | 09 Sep 2008 01:21 pm

4 - Na Li,it's pity you can't reach Bali.Hope you can come here and get great results.We all love you!

daniel | 09 Sep 2008 03:07 pm

5 - why can't the likes Serena or Venus play in Bali? They played even in Bangalore, for God sake...the quality of this tournament is at stake! None of the top 10 plays here. Horrible! In addition, train Indonesian women players the way Chinese do...That'll help.

Yudi | 09 Sep 2008 10:05 pm

6 - Shame on Pelti!!! What the hell happen with Indonesian player??? lose in the early stage...OMG! I'm no surprised at all....but seems like the event this year worst then before, no TOP 10 player?? Duh!! pitty!!!

Alessandro | 09 Sep 2008 10:06 pm

7 - BRAVISSIMAA FRANCYY, FORZAAAAAAAAAAAAAA:d

Adji Soedibjo | 10 Sep 2008 02:02 pm

8 - ethan...Li Na arrived in Bali but last Monday morning she felt pain on her knee...so she decided to withdraw to avoid worst problem...

ethan | 10 Sep 2008 06:42 pm

9 - Adji Soedibjo,thanks for telling me about this.Na Li can't compete in Bali,it's very pity.But to a player,health is the most important factor in career.