Ana Ivanovic overcame Venus Williams with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 win to qualify for the third round of the China Open. Williams, who won her biggest title since 2010 last week in Wuhan, broke serve in the seventh game of the first set to take a 4-3 lead and earned a game point for 5-3. Ivanovic broke back to force the first set to the tie-break before clinching the first set with 7-3.
Williams fought back at the start of the second set racing out to a 2-0 lead but Ivanovic reeled off six consecutive games to take her third win over Williams setting up a third-round match against Svetlana Kuznetsova. Ivanovic hit 27 winners to 17 unforced errors.
“I was very pleased overall, not only with the forehand but just with my game. I have been working really hard. Since Wimbledon there have been little changes here and there but I feel like we have been working really hard. I knew it was coming but it was just a matter of time putting it. The last few days I have been doing it really well on the practice courts. I am happy to transfer to today’s match ”, said Ivanovic
Sara Errani overcame a second-set loss to see off Caroline Garcia in three sets with 6-4 3-6 6-1 to reach the third round of the China Open in Beijing where she will face Andrea Petkovic who beat Samantha Stosur 6-2 7-5 keeping her slim hopes alive to qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore.
Errani and Garcia traded breaks in the first six games until the Italian held the serve to take a 4-2 lead. Garcia won the next two games to draw level to 4-4. Errani broke again for 5-4 before serving out for the set to 15 for 6-4. Errani raced out to 3-0 but Garcia won four consecutive games to overhaul the Italian with 4-3. Garcia broke serve for 5-3 before closing out the second set in the next game. Errani bounced back by winning the first two games in the third set but dropped her serve in the third game. Errani broke serve for 4-1 before serving out for the match in the next game. She sealed the win with a drop-shot.
Bethanie Mattek Sands fought back from a bagel in the first set to beat Lara Arrabaruena 0-6 6-2 6-0 setting up a third round against US Open finalist Roberta Vinci. Angelique Kerber, who is in contention for a spot for the WTA Finals in Singapore, beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-1 6-4. Timea Bacsinszky defeated Mariana Duque Marino 7-5 6-2 setting up a third round match against Carla Suarez Navarro
