Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova had to withdraw from the ongoing China Open because of an abdominal injury. The world number two reached the US Open final and then led Russia to victory in the Fed Cup in the last two weekends, and the injury has caught up with her. “It’s getting worse and worse,” said the 22-year-old Kuznetsova. “I came here and had treatment but I just cannot serve.” The Russian at least had time to visit the Great Wall of China.
Third seed Amelie Mauresmo of France made an unspectacular return to tennis after a two-month layoff with a 6-2 6-2 win over Romania’s Ioana Raluca Olaru at the Tier II tournament in Beijing on Wednesday. Mauresmo has been struggling during this season. She didn’t play for two months because of appendicitis in March, and had won just one title in 2007 at Antwerp before deciding to take some time off. Remember that last year the Frenchwoman won two Grand Slam titles, and was ranked number one in the world.
Lindsay Davenport, on the other hand, has quickly found her form. After being away for almost a year, and giving birth to son Jagger in June, Davenport won a tournament on her singles comeback in Bali last weekend, and has now reached the second round of the China Open by beating fellow American Julie Ditty 6-0 6-2 in just 48 minutes.
