China's Peng Shuai stopped by Petrova at China Open

China's Peng Shuai stopped by Petrova at China Open

Peng Shuai of China reacts during the quarter-final match of women's singles
against Nadia Petrova of Russia at China Tennis Open Tournament 2009 at National
Tennis Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2009. Peng lost 1-2.



BEIJING, Oct. 9 -- China's Peng Shuai did not continue with her giant-killing
run at the 6.6 million U.S. dollars China Open as she was stopped by Russia's
13th seed Nadia Petrova 6-7 (5),6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday.



Peng went off with a flying start to a noisy audience, breaking Petrova's first
serve for a 2-0 lead in the opening set, but Petrova broke back in the fourth
game to level the match.



At 6-5, Petrova threatened to close up the set earlier while forcing a break
point in the 10th set on Peng's serve, but the 23-year-old Chinese girl, who
produced impressive baseline work, held serve and won the following tiebreak at
7-5.



Peng, who beat top seeds Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova on her road to the
last eight, called medical timeout at 1-1 in the second set, which did not help.
The Russian broke in the seventh and ninth games to pull back one set at 6-3.

Nadia Petrova of Russia celebrates after winning her quarter-final match of
women's singles against Peng Shuai of China at China Tennis Open Tournament 2009
at National Tennis Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2009. Petrova
won 2-1.



Petrova, physically in good shape after battling through second seed Serena
Williams in the last round only 15 hours ago, became confident in the final set
and was never really troubled before securing the set at 6-2.



Coming up next for her will be Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat compatriot
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3.

Nadia Petrova of Russia hits a return to Peng Shuai of China during the
quarter-final match of women's singles at China Tennis Open Tournament 2009 at
National Tennis Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2009. Petrova won
2-1.



In the men's quarterfinals, world number four Novak Djokovic reached the last
four after defeating fifth seed Fernando Verdasco6-3, 1-6, 6-1.



Coming into the match on a four-match winning streak, the 22-year-old Djokovic
had to overcome a worrying second set before wrapping up the match in one hour
and 44 minutes.



The Serbian will surpass Andy Murray and return to No. 3 in the world rankings
if he reaches the final on his debut in Beijing this week.



"I had ups and downs in today's match," said Djokovic. "Verdasco used these
chances in the second set when he broke and he had control over the match. I had
to save energy in the second set for the refreshing start of the third and I was
fortunate enough to do so."

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball during the men's singles
quarterfinal match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain at the China Open tennis
tournament in Beijing, Oct. 9, 2009. Djokovic won the match 2-1.



Djokovic next will face sixth seed Robin Soderling who beat Croat Ivan Ljubicic
7-6 (3), 6-4.



In an earlier match, world No. 15 Marin Cilic from Croatia also earned a place
in the semifinals after victory over Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 6-4, 6-4.

(Xinhua)