China’s Zheng stuns fourth-seeded Radwanska in women’s tennis
Rio de Janeiro, Aug 7 (IANS) China’s Zheng Saisai has pulled off a major early upset in Rio Olympics women’s tennis, eliminating fourth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 7-5 in first-round action here on Saturday.
Zheng, a 22-year-old who has never won a WTA Tour title and is competing in her first Olympics, was a big underdog against the 2012 Wimbledon runner-up, who has won 18 career titles, reports Efe.
But the 64th-ranked Zheng held her nerve down the stretch to move into the second round, where she will face 19-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina, a 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 winner over Turkey’s Ons Jabeur.
Another Chinese woman, 51st-ranked Zhang Shuai, pulled off a mild upset by edging Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), but her countrywoman, Peng Shuai, lost to Britain’s Heather Watson 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3.
In men’s singles, fourth-seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori cruised past Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 6-4, and his countryman, 118th-ranked Taro Daniel, stunned American 14th seed Jack Sock 6-4, 6-4.
Ninth-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, comfortably navigated a difficult first-round clash against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, winning 6-1, 6-4.