Taipei Times
Date: May 06, 2016
By: Dave Carroll / Staff reporter, with AP, MADRID
Taiwanese sisters Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan crashed out of the quarter-finals of the
From left, Sania Mirza of India, Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Taiwanese sisters Chan Yung-jan and Chan Hao-ching pose for a photograph after practicing together at the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain on Monday. Photo: screen grab from Facebook
women’s doubles at the Mutua Madrid Open yesterday, while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic eased into the third round of the men’s singles on Wednesday.
The fourth-seeded Chan sisters looked to be heading for a possible semi-final showdown with top seeds Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza after they claimed the first set 6-2, but Vania King and Alla Kudryavtseva fought back in the second, then saved two match points in the super tiebreak before converting their first chance to clinch the match 2-6, 6-4, 11-9 on Pista 4 at the Caja Magica in the Spanish capital.
The American-Russia duo saved six of 10 break points and converted three of five, winning five fewer points than the Taiwanese pairing, but still prevailing in 1 hour, 26 minutes.
In the second round on Wednesday, the Chan sisters eased into the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Margarita Gasparyan of Russia and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in 64 minutes.
In the men’s singles on Wednesday, Djokovic advanced by beating Borna Coric 6-2, 6-4.
Djokovic, who had not played in Madrid since 2013, served four double faults, but relied on his return to overpower Coric.
“I thought I was serving quite well in the practice sessions, but then the first set went well, the second not so much,” said Djokovic, who claimed his only Madrid Open title in 2011 when he beat Rafael Nadal in the final. “The first-serve percentage could have been higher and should be higher for the upcoming matches, but I’m satisfied with my game.”
Coric’s style has been compared to that of “a young Djokovic,” and the Serb said his opponent had a “nice balance between confident approach and self-belief on the court, and is not really intimidated by anyone’s presence.” [FULL STORY]
