Wang survives net practice

SURABAYA, Indonesia (AFP): Defending champion Shi-Ting Wang of Taipei survived a cascade of wayward volleys to defeat Israel's Hila Rosen 7-5, 6-3 and advance to the second round of the US$107,500 International Open on Tuesday.

Wang, seeded 2, was stronger and more consistent from the baseline, but missed almost every volley she attempted. But, rather than get frustrated at her carelessness, she often broke into a smile.

"I laughed because I'm trying to go to the net more but haven't done it in a match before. In practice you don't care, but there's more pressure in a match because you think it's really important to win the point," Wang explained.