Williams Favourite For China Open Following Impressive Comeback

Newly-crowned US Open champion Serena Williams heads the betting for the WTA China Open with many bookmakers offering 7/4 (bet365, Betvictor, ladbrokes) on the 18-time Grand Slam winner sealing her 64th WTA title. The 33-year-old is the current reigning champion having easily dispatched Jelena Janovic 6-2, 6-2 in the final last year and is hoping to secure her third title in Beijing after having also beaten Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova back in 2004. Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova are the 6/1 (Sharipova - bet365, Betvictor, ladbrokes, paddy Power Kvitova - bet365, ladbrokes, paddy Power) joint second favourites to be lifting the trophy come the end of the tournament, whilst US Open semi-finalist Shuai Peng is the Chinese player most likely to record a home triumph according to the turf accountants (150/1 - Betvictor, Stan James).

World number one Williams had to overcome a difficult first round tie against Silvia Soler-Espinosa of Spain. The Michigan-born star staging an extraordinary comeback from being 5-0 down in the first set. Facing an unlikely bagel and in a position where many of her contemporaries would panic, Williams miraculously composed herself, eventually winning the set 7-5. The sixth game saw Williams save a set point before breaking the 26-year-old`s serve to gain her first game and steer herself back on track. She secured thirteen of the next fifteen sets to see the result read 7-5, 6-2.

Speaking of the all-important sixth game, Williams told a press conference that she just `started fighting` in order to avoid recording a 6-love loss for the first time since her match against Anabel Medina Garrigues in 2013.

`I didn`t want to lose 6-love. I just started fighting. I was like, just at least let me try to break her.` The younger sister of seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus, who is 50/1 (Betvictor, paddy power) to take the Beijing crown after seeing off Brit Heather Watson, said.

The victory marks Serena`s return to the court since pulling out of a clash against France`s Alize Cornet at the Wuhan Open with a viral illness, something that Williams was keen to discuss.

`I just started hitting a couple of days ago, taking it day by day. Finally, I decided I`m here [in Beijing], I may as well see what happens.

`I`m feeling a lot better. I have more energy. I look back. Like my eyes aren`t as dead as they were.` She said. The American now faces Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in the next round, and can be backed at 1/20 (bet365, Coral, Skybet, william hill) to win the tie. Wimbledon semi-finalist Pironkova, who is best known for having knocked out Venus Williams three times in Grand Slams (Australian Open 2006, Wimbledon 2010, 2011), is 21/2 (Betvictor) to see off her sister.

Maria Sharapova will take on Ukrainian Elina Svitolina after making light work of a potentially tricky first round match-up against Estonian Kaia Kanepi. The 27-year-old dispatched the world number 45 6-4, 6-1 despite hitting six double faults.

`I thought I played a difficult opponent, someone that I`ve had trouble with in the past,` The reigning French Open champion told a press conference. `I`m usually somebody that goes for my serve. If I make more errors, I feel confident knowing that I`m going for it rather than just making my opponent hitting the ball.`

A five-time Grand Slam champion, Sharapova is the current 2/7 (Betvictor, Coral) favourite to see off Svitolina, the Wuhan Open semi-finalist 10/3 (boylesports, sportingbet) to cause the world number four an early upset.

Perhaps the match to watch in the second round is Kvitova`s tie against home-hope Peng. Svitolina`s Wuhan semi-final nemesis and eventual tournament winner, Kvitova is 1/3 (Skybet) to overcome the home-grown talent. Peng is being offered at 11/4 (sportingbet).

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29/09/2014     © Frixo 2024