Taipei Times
Date: Jan 03, 2017
By: Dave Carroll / Staff reporter
Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen advanced to the second round of the Shenzhen Open yesterday, while top seed Agnieszka Radwanska survived a marathon three-setter in her first match of the year.
Taoyuan-born world No. 131 Chang defeated Viktorija Golubic 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 in 1 hour, 26 minutes at the opening WTA Tour tournament of the season.
The Taiwanese qualifier saved 10 of 14 break points and converted seven of eight, winning 77 of the 135 points contested to oust the Swiss world No. 57 and set up a second-round clash with Kristyna Pliskova after the world No. 60 rallied from a set down to oust Latvian sixth seed Anastasija Sevastova 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in 1 hour, 48 minutes.
Chang lost her only previous meeting with Pliskova in Dalian, China, last year when the Czech rallied from a set down to record a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory. [FULL STORY]
