3 minute read
Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-Wei has upset eighth-seeded former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Blissfully mixing business with pleasure, Hsieh Su-Wei has continued her Australian Open love affair to once again put Taiwanese tennis back in the spotlight.
In one of the shocks of the Open, Hsieh sent 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu packing with a 6-3 6-2 second-round victory over the eighth seed on Wednesday.
Coached by Australian great and former Open boss Paul McNamee, Hsieh - the world's top-ranked doubles player - has a habit of making her mark in singles in Melbourne despite her relatively low ranking.
The world No.71 has twice reached the second week of the season-opening grand slam, in 2008 and 2018.
The bubbly 35-year-old credits the city's vibe, a taste for the good life and a relaxed approach as key to her successes in Australia.
"I have to say I quite enjoy to practise here. I have a few years I was coming here for my off-season and training with Paul McNamee," Hsieh said.
"I know where to go to eat after the match. I go to the Thai restaurant. I have very good appetisers and very good drinks.
"So I definitely know how to enjoy life and play some tennis here.
"So I'm not worried about my tennis. If I don't play good, I go enjoy some good food here."
It's certainly working, with Hsieh now one win away from matching her two runs to the last 16, having only progressed beyond round two twice from 28 attempts at any of the other three majors.
But the funky baseliner with a two-handed forehand is an impressive eight-from-10 against top-10 rivals and says the Melbourne crowd also brings the best out of her.
"It's strange, I normally feel more excited to play with a better player because you know they have all the skill in the court and are better than any other girl," Hsieh said.
"But the crowd is always the best for us to keep fighting here.
"I always really enjoy to play here and I start my first junior (tournament) here. It was 21 years ago."
Andreescu, one of the 72 players forced into 14 days of hard quarantine on arrival to Australia last month, wasn't the only big name to fall on day three.
Grand slam greats Venus Williams and Petra Kvitova were also eliminated.
Williams needed two medical time-outs for ankle and knee injuries but refused to quit against Sara Errani in what could be the legend's last appearance in Australia.
But the 40-year-old ultimately succumbed 6-1 6-0 to the Italian qualifier, who will played Hsieh next on Friday.
Unlike Andreescu, Sorana Cirstea was able to overcome her own two weeks in hotel lockdown to remove Kvitova, the sixth seed and 2019 finalist, 6-4 1-6 6-1.
The Romanian's reward is a meeting with Czech 19th seed Marketa Vondrousova, who advanced with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Canadian Rebecca Marino.
Seven-times champion Serena Williams and seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka progressed comfortably.
Williams crushed Serbian Nina Stojanovic 6-3 6-0 and next plays Anastasia Potapova, a 6-2 6-4 winner over Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos.
Sabalenka beat Russian Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to book a meeting with American Ann Li, a 6-2 7-6 (8-6) victor over Alize Cornet.
Reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek and 2020 runner-up Garbine Muguruza also marched on with straight-set wins.
