Sharapova relishing ‘emotional’ Beijing showdown

Chang hails China’s ‘sensational’ growth

AFP, BEIJING: Maria Sharapova said Tuesday that her third-round China Open clash with world number two Simona Halep will help the Russian gauge her progress since returning from a 15-month doping ban.

The former number one, on the comeback trail since April following the ban for taking the banned substance meldonium, had to dig deep as she defeated compatriot Ekaterina Makarova over three sets in the second round.

Sharapova, a lowly 104 in the world and on a wildcard at the China Open, has yet to win a tournament since returning to tennis.

The five-time Grand Slam champion said she had endured "a few ups and downs" in seeing off Makarova 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

But the 30-year-old is relishing her showdown with the Romanian Halep: "We know each other's games very well, that's no secret.

“They've always been very challenging, tough, competitive, emotional.”

Sharapova, a crowd favourite in Beijing, added: "But I love the challenge of playing against someone that's number two in the world.

“She's a great player, she's had a great year. “Any time you're able to face an opponent that's done something right and well, it's great to see where you are and where your level is.”

The Halep meeting will be a replay of the first-round match between the pair at the US Open in August, when Sharapova made an impressive return to Grand Slam competition before exiting in the fourth round. Sharapova holds a 7-0 record against Halep, who made it into the next round on the outside Beijing hard courts after Magdalena Rybarikova retired ill in the second set.

Tuesday's encounter with Makarova was the second time in four days that Sharapova had been forced into a deciding set. And the Russian believes tournaments such as the China Open are only getting harder to win.

“There's a lot of depth in the game, by that I mean there's maybe many years ago you'd find yourself working through the first rounds,” she said. “You knew you're going to get through those first few rounds, it will be straight sets -- you might be rusty, but you’ll get through it.

“You can't think like that any more, there's too many good players playing the first, second, third, fourth rounds.”

Meanwhile, former tennis star Michael Chang on Tuesday lauded the “sensational” growth of the game in China and said he hopes it will result in more world-class Chinese players.

The retired 1989 French Open champion, now coach of Japan's world number 14 Kei Nishikori, said he has witnessed first-hand how tennis has gained in popularity in China over the last 30 years.

Speaking at the China Open, now a major stop in the tennis calendar, the American said: “I can recall playing here in Beijing in a much smaller venue. “To see how tennis has grown tremendously over these years in and throughout China has been sensational.”

World number one Rafael Nadal is competing in the Chinese capital, while many of the biggest names in the women's game are also in Beijing.

But the host country has only ever produced one Grand Slam singles winner, the now-retired Li Na, and Chang said: "Now you're seeing obviously some of the biggest tournaments in the world being played here in China.

“And obviously a lot of smaller tournaments, challengers, futures, opportunities for young Chinese players to not only play on the ATP Tour or on the WTA Tour, but to be able to go out and be some of the best in the world.”

The 45-year-old was speaking as he was named a global ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 2008.

Sharapova relishing emotional Beijing showdown

Chang hails Chinas sensational growth

AFP, BEIJING: Maria Sharapova said Tuesday that her third-round China Open clash with world number two Simona Halep will help the Russian gauge her progress since returning from a 15-month doping ban. The former number one, on the comeback trail since April following the ban for taking the banned substance meldonium, had to dig deep as she defeated compatriot Ekaterina Makarova over three sets in the second round. Sharapova, a lowly 104 in the world and on a wildcard at the China Open, has yet to win a tournament since returning to tennis. The five-time Grand Slam champion said she had endured a few ups and downs in seeing off Makarova 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. But the 30-year-old is relishing her showdown with the Romanian Halep: We know each others games very well, thats no secret. Theyve always been very challenging, tough, competitive, emotional. Sharapova, a crowd favourite in Beijing, added: But I love the challenge of playing against someone thats number two in the world. Shes a great player, shes had a great year. Any time youre able to face an opponent thats done something right and well, its great to see where you are and where your level is. The Halep meeting will be a replay of the first-round match between the pair at the US Open in August, when Sharapova made an impressive return to Grand Slam competition before exiting in the fourth round. Sharapova holds a 7-0 record against Halep, who made it into the next round on the outside Beijing hard courts after Magdalena Rybarikova retired ill in the second set. Tuesdays encounter with Makarova was the second time in four days that Sharapova had been forced into a deciding set. And the Russian believes tournaments such as the China Open are only getting harder to win. Theres a lot of depth in the game, by that I mean theres maybe many years ago youd find yourself working through the first rounds, she said. You knew youre going to get through those first few rounds, it will be straight sets -- you might be rusty, but youll get through it. You cant think like that any more, theres too many good players playing the first, second, third, fourth rounds. Meanwhile, former tennis star Michael Chang on Tuesday lauded the sensational growth of the game in China and said he hopes it will result in more world-class Chinese players. The retired 1989 French Open champion, now coach of Japans world number 14 Kei Nishikori, said he has witnessed first-hand how tennis has gained in popularity in China over the last 30 years. Speaking at the China Open, now a major stop in the tennis calendar, the American said: I can recall playing here in Beijing in a much smaller venue. To see how tennis has grown tremendously over these years in and throughout China has been sensational. World number one Rafael Nadal is competing in the Chinese capital, while many of the biggest names in the womens game are also in Beijing. But the host country has only ever produced one Grand Slam singles winner, the now-retired Li Na, and Chang said: Now youre seeing obviously some of the biggest tournaments in the world being played here in China. And obviously a lot of smaller tournaments, challengers, futures, opportunities for young Chinese players to not only play on the ATP Tour or on the WTA Tour, but to be able to go out and be some of the best in the world. The 45-year-old was speaking as he was named a global ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 2008.