Video: Niculescu Wins a Point, Awkwardly, in Guangzhou

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Video: Niculescu Wins a Point, Awkwardly, in Guangzhou

There are many ways to win tennis points. Hammering an ace is one of them. Launching a crosscourt forehand winner is another. Drop shots are good, as are backhands down the line that change the direction of a rally and catch an opponent off guard.

More: Stacey Allaster Ends at WTA

Sometimes good, old-fashioned defense is great. Lobs work when an opponent has attacked the net, as do passing shots.

But Monica Niculescu takes a new approach entirely on this match point during her 6-3, 6-2 win over Rebecca Peterson in Guangzhou. After producing a bevy of squash forehands she lets the racquet fly (it slips out of her hands but it's more fun to assume the toss was part of the Romanian's grand tactical vision on this point) and stands there, helplessly. Remarkably, it works! Peterson nets the backhand and Niculescu slides through to the quarters where she’ll meet Yanina Wickmayer next.

In other action at the Guangzhou Open, top-seeded Simona Halep thumped Timea Babos, 6-4, 6-0, while third-seeded Sara Errani bounced Chinese qualifier Kai-Lin Zhang, 6-3, 6-3.

Fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic (d. Schiavone), fifth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova (d. Urszula Radwanska) and eighth-seeded SaiSai Zheng (d. Kontaveit) also reached the quarters on a busy Wednesday in Guangzhou.

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