|
|
|
Your Insight |
Contribute Your Insight and see full comments from others - All you need is to be Registered and Logged in - then simply click on the relevant match, player or tournament and start sharing Your Insight! |
|
Refresh List
|
|
|
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 22:39:59
thedestroyer9 (Mod)
Ace Leader
Top Earner
268 (3528) Posts
1393 (11441) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | Safina edged Zheng at the AO of 05 when the Chinesewoman was a better proposition and then demolished her at the French Open earlier this year. Things have gone from great to unbelievable for the Russian who is riding a 12-match winning streak and has lost just 3 times since mid-April. She hasn't been clinical so far this week and did have to come from a break behind late in the first set to overcome claycourter Martinez Sanchez, but ended up winning 76% behind the first serve whilst crushing her opponent's weak second delivery with a barrage of double-fisted backhands. In the end, it was the waywardness of the Spaniard (60 unforced errors, but did produce 13 big forehand winners in the first set showing she was going for it) that allowed Safina to eventually cruise through, but she'll be hoping she is polished up now for a tussle with the home crowd's favourite Jie Zheng. The Wimbledon hero nipped Szavay at the post in the opening round, then yesterday overcame a first set hiccup to send Llagostera Vives packing in 3 sets. The local was very shaky on serve winning just 54% behind the first delivery and 48% on the second, not to mention she committed 67 unforced errors (to Vives' 80) in a mistake-riddled affair. The home crowd certainly contributed to getting her over the line against an unflattering opponent, but unfortunately that won't cut the mustard here. In the past on hardcourts, Zheng has been overpowered by players like Azarenka, Kleybanova, Chakvetadze, Jankovic and Hantuchova who are able to punish her serve and dictate the baseline rallies, and a supremely confident Safina who is also so deadly on serve and a brilliant athlete is likely to do all that and more. The Russian is no stranger to representing her country and should continue on her merry way en route to a potential medal. |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 21:45:54
supersi (Mod)
412 (436) Posts
551 (551) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 20:21:34
wvafan3
22 (22) Posts
0 (0) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 18:44:29
d.carson (Mod)
569 (2256) Posts
954 (3629) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | Safina defeated Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez yesterday comfortably and I expect another comfortable victory over home hope Zheng. Safina leads the H2H 2-0 and the Russian powerhouse has too much strength and hardcourt ability for the Chinesewoman. Safina is unlikely to let the crowd spoil her Olympic dream here. |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 18:31:15
kingkoubek (Mod)
136 (682) Posts
55 (554) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 17:25:44
TonySoprano
35 (163) Posts
3 (133) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | How the chinese is rallying the goldmedals in the Olympics, I fear Zheng is going to put up a quite a performance before her home audience on home soil. Yes, Safina is the favourite here. I wouldn`t dare bet on this match!!! |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 16:50:59
helen of troy
64 (68) Posts
6 (6) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | This promises to be a fascinating match, and not one which I would feel comfortable betting on (for much the same reasons as those given by supersi, and because Safina is bound to be massively odds on.) However, I do expect Safina to pull through in the end. |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 09:25:07
supersi (Mod)
412 (436) Posts
551 (551) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-4 6-3 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 16 << |
| | I feel this may be a bit of a banana skin for Safina. I dont feel she matches up too well against zheng despite the h2h. Zheng uses the power of the opposition to guide the ball into the corners and Safina is not known for her mobility so could be given a runaround here. However, Safina does have renewed confidence and is in sintilating form demolishing everything in her way. When you count in the home support it becomes even more tricky, although i did say Safina was my pick for the tourney and will stand by it |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 03:03:29
thedestroyer9 (Mod)
Ace Leader
Top Earner
268 (3528) Posts
1393 (11441) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Jie Zheng (CHN) d. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 6-7(7) 6-1 6-4 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 32 << |
| | Vives surprisingly leads the h2h 3-1 having wno the last 3 meetings on varying surfaces with some degree of comfort, including a win on this terrain in this country against Zheng at similar Fed Cup level. But the Chinesewoman lifted at Wimbledon and made it to the semis which is bound to regain her confidence levels, and was also able to hold off the talented Szavay in R1. The local star hit more winners, executed less unforced errors and was able to create 15 break opportunities against the fast serving of the Hungarian. Vives came from a set down and a deficit in the 3rd deciding set to overcome Zakopalova but alarmingly won just 28% behind her vulnerable second serve and the Czech was able to conjure up countless winners however her mistakes at critical times proved the difference. Zheng adopts a similar sort of strategy to the Spaniard in her defensive outlook from the back of the court, but is a little quicker, has a bit more heaviness off the ground and has the big crowd to get her over the line though the odds are horrendous. |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 02:49:50
y2w902
66 (131) Posts
20 (20) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Jie Zheng (CHN) d. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 6-7(7) 6-1 6-4 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 32 << |
| | Got to go for the crowd favourite here. |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Aug 12 2008 02:24:35
tgrsfn5
118 (118) Posts
0 (0) Aces
Login to give Aces | | Jie Zheng (CHN) d. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 6-7(7) 6-1 6-4 at Beijing WTA Tier I (CHN) - Hard Court, Round of 32 << |
| | |
| | | |
