Classy Peng breaks through to semis

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, September 3, 2014
Adjust font size:

Peng Shuai reached the semi-finals of the US Open by routing Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-1 in the Flushing Meadows heat.

China's Peng Shuai came out swinging from the beginning and eventually cruised into her first Grand Slam semifinal with a 6-2, 6-1 win over rising star Belinda Bencic.

Peng joins two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na and Zheng Jie as the only Chinese to reach the final four of a Grand Slam -- and she did it in her 37th appearance in a major tournament.

Peng, 28, delivered a master lesson to the 17-year-old Bencic in an unlikely quarter-final between unseeded players, winning the groundstroke rallies and unleashing pinpoint passing shot winners after luring the Swiss to the net with short balls.

The Chinese baseliner played an extremely clean first set against Bencic, the youngest player in the Top 100 and the youngest remaining in the US Open draw. She smacked 15 winners to only four errors in taking the opening stanza in 35 minutes.

Peng maintained the momentum by grabbing two more breaks in the second set. Trailing 4-0, Bencic finally got on the board when she held at love, but Peng subsequently stepped up to the baseline to serve out the match.

The match stats were all Peng. She hit 24 winners - including five aces - to just seven unforced errors, while Bencic's game was somewhat erratic, producing 19 unforced errors to just 12 winners.

Peng has won 16 doubles titles, most recently claiming the French Open title with Hsieh Su-wei, but has yet to win a tour singles title.

The 39th-ranked Chinese will play either former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, the 10th seed from Denmark, or Italian 13th seed Sara Errani in the semi-finals.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter