After failing to reach the quarterfinals of the Korea Open for the first time in 10 years, Jang Soo-jeong (Daegu City Hall) said, “It’s a pity that I couldn’t play more aggressively.” Jang lost 0-2 (3-6 4-6) to Emina Vectas (USA) in the second round of the Hana Bank Korea Open on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour at the Olympic Park Tennis Courts in Songpa-gu, Seoul on Wednesday. A win would have put her in the quarterfinals for the first time in 10 years, since the 2013 tournament. “I played aggressively and made it to 4-2, but I think it was my passivity after that that cost me the match,” Chang said at the post-match press conference.
Earlier in the day, Hsieh defeated 2020 Australian Open winner and current world No. 30 Sofia Kenin (USA) 2-0 in the first round to reach the round of 16.Although she didn’t make it to the quarterfinals, the experience of defeating a top-30 player in a tour event will be a huge asset. “It gave me a lot of confidence to win against a good player like Kenin. I think it gave me the confidence that I can do well in the future,” she said. “I think (my victory) will also give confidence to the juniors who will be challenging for the tour,” he said, “and I hope they will take on big stage challenges such as tour events.”
The preparation for this tournament was not easy .Zhang tried to focus on the tour without competing at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games However, visa issues prevented her from completing the Chinese season, which began last month, as planned .”I had traveled to Turkey in 2021, but the Chinese embassy refused to issue me a visa because of that,” said Zhang. It was the first time I’ve ever been denied a visa while on tour,” he lamented. Her schedule was disrupted. WTA 250 events in Guangzhou and Ningbo were canceled, and I was forced to train domestically. It was hard to keep her game in shape. Jang Jang-jeong, who shocked everyone by reaching the quarterfinals of the Korea Open as a high school student 10 years ago, is now a seasoned veteran.
Along with Han Na-rae (Bucheon City Hall), she is the “odd man out” on the WTA Tour. “It would have been great if someone older than me had tried the tour,” says Jang, who often cries alone in her hotel room, tired of a tour life that doesn’t suit her well. I would like to help my juniors if they want to challenge the tour.” However, she added with a laugh, “I don’t want to coach after retirement because it’s hard to live abroad.” After the national championships, Jang plans to compete in the Challenger event in Australia if her body can handle it. She will then compete in a tournament in Japan in November before preparing for the Australian Open, her first major 스포츠토토링크 tournament next year.