BEIJING : Shambolic Serena Williams suffered the worst loss of
her career Wednesday night, dropping a 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) opening match
to 127th-ranked Tiantian Sun at the 585,000-dollar China
Open.
Former world number one Williams couldn't have looked less
interested in the proceedings on court as she all but sleep-walked
through to the second-round loss. Wearing no jewelry, even her
trademark scream had gone missing.
The defeat marked the lowest point on court for the seven-time
Grand Slam winner since going full-time on the WTA in 1997.
In November 1995, 14-year-old Williams was beaten by 149th-ranked
Annie Miller in qualifying rounds in Quebec.
Sun, the Olympic doubles champion, clocked China's third win from
as many matches on the day, with Peng Shuai and Zie Zheng reaching
the quarters.
Only a day before, Williams had joked about the power of the
Chinese in tennis, warning the world to "look out for those
Chinese".
Sun got the message: "I never expected this victory, it's a
breakthrough for me -- not a miracle.
"My serve and returns worked well, they were the key for me. This
win will surely give me more confidence."
Williams, the defending champion, who had been banking on a dream
final with her sister Venus, was generously credited with just 22
unforced errors in an embarrassing rout lasting one hour, 39
minutes.
Sun was clearly nervous in the closing stages as she played the
American whose current 2005 form has been a shadow of her former
self.
The Chinese right-hander caught the line with a looping return to
erupt in relief after the bout of nerves which twice prevented her
from serving out the upset.
Williams suffered her seventh loss of the season and can now do
little but perhaps watch Venus try to pick up the family honour
with her own opening contest against Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives
Thursday.
"I'm very disappointed, I struggled all night, I played terrible,"
said the American. "I never expected a tough match like this.
"I was struggling with my left knee. I'm disappointed I couldn't
perform better. Sun played well, she was ready for the
match."
Earlier, fast-rising Peng teetered on the edge of defeat, letting a
4-0 final-set lead slip before rescuing a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/0)
victory over Mariana Diaz-Oliva.
The top-ranked Chinese at 33rd in the world gave her home nation a
roller-coaster ride as they watched her apparent winning margin
evaporate against the 29-year-old Argentine baseliner in the second
round.
"I played very well up to 4-0 in the third, but I was too eager to
win," admitted Peng. "I forced my shots and made a lot of unforced
errors.
"But I'm very happy to have fought back to win. It's a good
experience for me, winning a difficult match like this."
She added: "Playing in China makes me more nervous, there's a lot
of pressure on me."
Peng will Friday face off against German Anna-Lena Groenfeld,
placed into the draw with a bye after second seed Lindsay Davenport
failed to appear this week due to injury.
Groenfeld reached the quarter-finals with a win over Japan's Ai
Sugiyama.
Wednesday's run of local success is yet another sign of the Chinese
women's tennis explosion which threatens to rival the current
Russian boom in the game within a few seasons. - AFP /dt