Li Na Advances On Day Two Of 2013 China Open; Agnieszka Radwanska Survives Upset Bid

Li Na (click to enlarge)

Li Na has had trouble with Daniela Hantuchova in their recent head to head matchups, but you wouldn’t have known that from the way Li Na ran out to a 6-0 4-0 lead over Hantuchova before hanging on to win 6-0 6-4 on day two of the 2013 Beijing Open. It would be great to see the 2011 Roland Garros champion take the title on home soil, but this event is a loaded field Premier Mandatory. We’ll see if the native daughter can thrill the fans with a championship run.

Agniezska Radwanska (click to enlarge)

While Li Na rolled, Agnieszka Radwanska had to fight tooth and nail to repel an upset bid by Stefanie Voegele. Aga won this event in 2011, but looked on the verge of not making it out of the first round this year as Voegele captured the first set and pressured Aga from then on. Still, Radwanska has the heart of a champion and would not crumble, fighting back to win the match 4-6 6-4 6-4. Sometimes it isn’t pretty, but a top player knows the value of just winning and moving on.

singles – First round
[4] NA LI (CHN) D DANIELA HANTUCHOVA (SVK)	\| 6 – 0 \| 6 – 4 \|
LAUREN DAVIS (USA) D MONA BARTHEL (GER)	\| 6 – 0 \| 5 – 7 \| 6 – 4 \|
[13] SABINE LISICKI (GER) D CHANELLE SCHEEPERS (RSA)	\| 6 – 3 \| 6 – 2 \|
LAURA ROBSON (GBR) D KLARA ZAKOPALOVA (CZE)	\| 7 – 6 (3) \| 4 – 6 \| 6 – 1 \|
MISAKI DOI (JPN) D SILVIA SOLER-ESPINOSA (ESP)	\| 6 – 1 \| 6 – 1 \|
LUCIE SAFAROVA (CZE) D [15] SAMANTHA STOSUR (AUS)	\| 7 – 5 \| 6 – 3 \|
KAIA KANEPI (EST) D JULIA GOERGES (GER)	\| 7 – 5 \| 6 – 4 \|
MADISON KEYS (USA) D DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA (SVK)	\| 6 – 4 \| 6 – 3 \|
[3] AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL) D STEFANIE VOEGELE (SUI)	\| 4 – 6 \| 6 – 4 \| 6 – 4 \|
[1] SERENA WILLIAMS (USA) D ELENA VESNINA (RUS)	\| 6 – 4 \| 6 – 2 \|
MARIA KIRILENKO (RUS) D JIE ZHENG (CHN)	\| 7 – 5 \| 6 – 2 \|