China's Zhang Shuai Cruises into 2014 BMW M'sian Open Semi-Finals

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- Second seed Zhang Shuai of China is glad that she had a fast recovery from shoulder injury and cruised into the 2014 BMW Malaysian Open semi-finals, here, Friday. Zhang who will meet seventh seed Donna Vekic of Croatia in the semi-finals, admitted that she was struggling and had a tough match against Magda Linette of Poland although she won 6-2, 2-6 and 1-6. However, Zhang who currently ranks 45th in the world, said her match was better than the last match in the second round against Zhang Ling of Hong Kong, Thursday. "I am very nervous and worried about my shoulder because I had so much tennis after my recovery. But I am so lucky here, in this tournament, as I did not feel any pain. "I was almost in tears during an interview after my match earlier. For me, this is a very good comeback after I had a rest for almost a month," said Zhang who had a shoulder injury in the semi-finals of the 2014 Mexican Open in Acapulco. In Acapulco, she had to retire in the first set and lost to Dominika Cibulkova, who ranked 10th in the world. Commenting on her game with Linette, Zhang said she played well in the first set but due to fatigue, she lost 2-6 her in the second set. However, in the final set after had a short break, Zhang felt better and played more aggressively to win the match. Zhang has won 15 singles and eight doubles titles in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit, and two singles and five doubles titles in Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Croatian (Vekic) defeated fourth seed Patricia Mayr-Achleitner of Austria, 6-4 and 7-5. Vekic, no. 95th in the world, said it was a difficult match but she managed to find her rhythm and was happy with her serves. On her opponent (Zhang) for the semi-finals, Vekic said she had never played against Zhang but would find it fun and interesting to play with a player for the first time and hoped that she would play her best tennis. Meanwhile, first seed doubles Timea Babos of Hungary and Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei beat third seed Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova and Hsieh Su-Wei of Chinese Taipei, 6-3 and 6-3 in the semi-finals. Top seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia struggled her way to make it into the semi-finals after a tough game against sixth seed Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan. The world no. 10 defeated Diyas 4-6, 6-2 and 6-4 in two hours 34 minutes at the Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC). "Diyas played really well; she gave me a physically tough game. I had to struggle a bit than before this. The weather was different. Before this, it was raining, but today...no, I felt different. "Diyas is a real fighter, she pulled me hard. I made a lot of mistakes in this match but in the second and third sets, I felt more comfortable and played more aggressively," she told reporters after the game. Cibulkova said she was ready for the semi-finals and would get some rest to make sure she had enough energy and be fit. Cibulkova will meet Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic in the semi-finals after the latter (Pliskova) upset Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey, 6-4 and 6-4. -- BERMAMA