Chinese elite tennis players Wang Yafan, Wang Qiang and Zheng Saisai, secured in Dubai on Saturday first victories in the qualifier first round of the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Tennis Championships 2016.
The 24th edition of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships kicked off here on Saturday and started with the match Wang Yafan against Slovakian player Kristina Kucova whom the Chinese defeated in three long sets 6-3 4-6 6-2.
Wang was often surprised on the court by Kucova's powerful forehand. However, the Chinese played more agile and self-controlled, rarely distracted herself with negative soliloquies.
Kucova on the other hand fell on the ground at the start of the first set, was not injured, but audibly expressed frustration about her unsteady way of playing. Wang was superior in long shots and showed more endurance, but made several mistakes when she attacked close to the net. Wang said she hopes to get very far in this year's DDF championships where she participates for the first time.
Her compatriot Wang Qiang won against Omani player Fatma Al-Nabhani straight in two sets 6-4, 6-4.
Tianjin-born Wang Qiang said she left the court as a winner because her style was somewhat faster than that of her opponent and "also because I scored some key points."
Al-Nabhani told Xinhua that she was proud of the encounter in spite of her defeat, "because we delivered a very dynamic match. I certainly felt that Wang Qiang is among the top 100 players of the world and she broke me two times. It was a very close match, and at the start of the year I have always a weak phase as I have to find my rhythm first".
The 24-year-old Omani hopeful added that Chinese players prefer a dynamic, fast power play, unlike the European athletes who vary much more in their style. "The only way to win against Chinese opponents is to break their rhythms," she said.
In a one-sided match, Zheng Saisai defeated Cagla Buyukakcay from Turkey in two sets 6-1, 6-0. "Today I started very well. I try hard to fight every match and hope to reach many more rounds of the championships."
Zheng Saisai added that this is her first time to play the DDF Tennis Championships. "I really like the atmosphere here, the weather is good and the court as well," the 22-year-old said after the match.
