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Liudmila Samsonova won her first-round match at the Zhengzhou Open on Tuesday. Seeded 11th, the 24-year-old beat Tatjana Maria in 69 minutes. This was the second time in as many weeks that Samsonova and Maria had faced each other.
Last time, Maria had won merely two games in their clash. This time, however, the match was relatively longer with Samsonova eventually prevailing, 6-3, 6-3. Samsonova won 20 of 25 first-serve points to the German winning 19 of 34 first-serve points.
Samsonova also won 78% points on return on her opponent’s second serve. Samsonova also was unable to save both break points she faced but did convert five break points on Maria’s serve. In the next round, Samsonova will play yet another German in Laura Siegemund.
Siegemund got past home player, the Chinese no. 2 Lin Zhu in their first-round match. After an hour and 47 minutes, the 35-year-old won 6-2, 6-3.
Zhengzhou Open: Zhouxuan Bai makes an impressive fightback
Despite Siegemund’s victory, it wasn’t a good day for the German players in the draw.
Zhu’s compatriot, Zhouxuan Bai came from a set down against Tamara Korpatsch in their first-round clash. Bai needed two hours and 15 minutes to post a 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 win. In the first set, Korpatsch completely overwhelmed Bai.
She won 88% points on return on the latter’s second serve and converted two of four break points to go up in the match. However, Bai patiently waited it out for her opponent’s level to drop. And once she’d taken the second set in the tie-break, she returned the opening set’s favour back to the German.
In the deciding set, Bai won 79% of her first-serve points and 71% of her second-serve points. She also won 76% points on return on Korpatsch’s second serve. Bai also didn’t face any break points in the set and secured six break points for herself on her rival’s serve.
Lastly, Daria Kasatkina came through a tough first-round match at the Zhengzhou Open. Playing the final match on Tuesday, the eighth seed saved a couple of set points against Timea Babos to pull through 6-1, 7-6(7).
