The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Chuang takes title without any fuss

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 11, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Chuang takes title without any fuss

By Rakesh Rao

NEW DELHI, APRIL 10. Top seed Chuang Chia-Jung needed just over an hour to pack off an indisposed Hao Jie as the final of the Bank of Baroda-sponsored $ 10,000 ITF Women's tennis tournament proved a damp squib at the DLTA Complex on Saturday evening.

Chuang won 6-3, 6-1 by claiming the last six games of the one-sided final. The unseeded Hao, suffering from fever since morning, did not appear very keen to play the final.

Her body language eloquently conveyed the state of her health. She simply went through the motions and allowed Chuang to take the winner's share of $ 1600 and collected $ 1000.

With Hao in discomfort but playing simply because she did not want to withdraw from the final, there was barely any resistance for Chuang. In any case, Hao was too exhausted by the end of the second game that she held after saving five breakpoints. Though Hao managed to hold two more games in the set, including the eighth where she saved a breakpoint, she never threatened Chuang's serve in the match.

After some much-needed rest at the end of the 37-minute first set, Hao held the opening service game of the second. But this long game took further toll of her energies.

Thereafter, Chuang had no difficulty in leaving her rival stranded with accurate passing shots without using much power.

Resigned to her fate, Hao barely managed to stay on the court and almost waited for Chuang put an end to the formalities. Eventually, in what turned out to be the final game, two successive double-faults from Hao hastened the end. Hao will stay back in the Capital, along with two other teammates, to prepare for the Fed Cup to be played here from April 19 to 24.

The result: Singles (final): Chuang Chia-Jung (Tpe) bt Hao Jie (Chn) 6-3, 6-1.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport