Radwanska Favourite For Seoul As 2nd Round Concludes

World number five Agnieszka Radwanska is the odds-on favourite to retain her Korea Open crown after her second round humiliation of former Wimbledon doubles semi-finalist Chanelle Scheepers. It took only 49 minutes for Radwanska to dispatch her faltering opponent.

Radwanska met Scheepers after progressing through the first round with a complete performance against Slovakia`s Polona Hercog. The one-time Grand Slam finalist converted five of eight break points to defeat the 23-year-old in just under an hour and 15 minutes.

By beating Scheepers 6-0, 6-0, the 25-year-old Pole recorded her fourth WTA `double bagel` of her career. Despite facing two break points in the first game, Radwanska rallied to hold both, never having to come up against another game point. The 4/7 tournament favourite (betfred, Totesport) will take confidence from her stunning performance as she looks to exact revenge on American Varvara Lepchenko in the quarter-finals on Friday (19th Spetember). The number one seed came a-cropper against Uzbekistan-born Lepchenko at Stanford back in July, though this marked the first time that Friday`s challenger had managed to overturn Radwanska in five previous efforts.

The 28-year-old fifth seed saw off Australia`s Olivia Rogowska 6-1, 6-2 in the first round, taking advantage of some profligate serving and converting all three available break points. Her second round encounter with South Korean wildcard Han Na-Lee however, was a much more tightly contested affair with the quarter-finalist having to come back from 5-3 down to win the first set. The match ended 7-5, 6-1. `Over all I think I started a bit slowly, but I managed to put it together and started playing better and getting my focus together in the second set.` Lepchenko told the WTA.

`It was just about staying in the game and staying focused at the right moments. I got more comfortable as the match went on.`

Numerous bookmakers are offering odds of 14/1 on Lepchenko upsetting Radwanska once again and going on to take the title.

One star who won`t be getting her hands on the trophy is Britain`s own Heather Watson who succumbed to a 7-5, 6-2 first round defeat at the hands of American Nicole Gibbs on Tuesday. It`s the second first round blow in a matter of weeks for the 22-year-old after she was thrashed 6-1, 6-1 by Sorana Cirstea in the US Open. Many felt the Seoul tournament was the perfect opportunity for Watson to bounce back with Gibbs 55 places below her in the world rankings at 101. Unfortunately, it was not to be and the American moves on to her second round match-up against Danka Kovinic tomorrow (Thursday 18th Spetember). Watson`s successor is a clear 4/7 (Sporting Bet, william hill) favourite to win the tie, with Montenegrin Kovinic 13/8 with both bet365 and Stan James.

In other second round news, Magdalena Rybarikova is Sporting Bet`s 8/13 favourite for tomorrow`s clash against Yanina Wickmayer who`s 6/4 with Spreadex. Belgian Wickmayer is hoping to have turned a corner after her premature ejection from the Hong Kong Open last week. The 34-year-old was betrayed by her second serve with opponent Zheng Saisai taking 21 points in sealing victory. In Seoul, Rybarikova dumped out Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to make it this far.

Of the two remaining second round bouts before the tournament steps up a gear, Russian Maria Kirilenko (EVENS paddy Power) gets to grips with Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic (EVENS Spread Ex) whilst Kaia Kanepi is the strong 3/10 favourite in her match against Czech Kristyna Pliskova who`s 3/1 with bet365.

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17/09/2014     © Frixo 2024