Cho’s Next Opponent: Henine-Hardenne

Korea’s leading female tennis player, Cho Yoon-jeong (world ranking 76•Samsung Securities), advanced to the third round in this year’s last major competition, the U.S. Open (total prize money 18 billion won).

In the second round held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York on September 2, Cho beat 27th seeded Gisela Dulko (Argentina), 2-0 (6-4, 6-3). This is the second time Cho has made it to the third round in the US Open (the first was in 2002), and there she will meet Justine Henin-Hardenne (seeded seventh, Belgium), this year’s French Open champion, on September 4.

Cho was expected to have a hard time in the match, but ended up with a total win due to Dulko’s continued errors. Dulko committed 31 errors, including four double-faults, and eventually succumbed to Cho’s persistent stroke plays.

Number one-ranked Lindsay Davenport (United States) and sixth-seeded Elena Dementieva (Russia), easily advanced to the third round.

In the men’s singles, Andre Agassi (seeded seventh, United States), the oldest player at the age of 35, beat Ivo Karlovic (world ranking 78, Croatia) 3-0 (7-6, 7-6, 7-6) to advance to the third round.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com