Pe’er powers through in China

Pe’er, who climbed one place to No. 18 in the world earlier Monday, made at least the semifinals in five of her first 10 tournaments of the year, but has struggled in the past four months.

By ALLON SINAI
311_Shahar Peer killer return (photo credit: Associated Press)
311_Shahar Peer killer return
(photo credit: Associated Press)
After reaching just one quarterfinal in her past nine tournaments, Shahar Pe’er got her China Open campaign off on the right foot on Monday, defeating Shengnan Sun 6-1, 6-2 in the first round in Beijing.
Pe’er, who climbed one place to No. 18 in the world earlier Monday, made at least the semifinals in five of her first 10 tournaments of the year, but has struggled in the past four months.
However, she had little trouble brushing aside the world No. 252 on Monday and will be looking forward to facing Patty Schnyder (44) in the second round of the $4,500,000 tournament on Tuesday.
Pe’er will be aiming to tie her head-to-head record against the Swiss veteran at 2-2.
Elsewhere, after a surprising loss at the Thailand Open, top-ranked Rafael Nadal is aiming to return to his winning ways in his debut at the Japan Open.
Nadal arrived in Tokyo on Monday after a loss to tournament winner and fellow-Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the semifinals in Bangkok on Saturday.
The 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 loss was Nadal’s first since winning the US Open and becoming the seventh man to complete a career Grand Slam. The 24- year-old has won seven titles already this year, including three majors, and will face Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo on Tuesday in the second round of the $1.2 million tournament.
“Tomorrow will be a difficult match,” Nadal said Monday. “It’s a very fast surface here and Giraldo is a very good player. He will be dangerous.”
AP contributed to this report.