Wang Qiang Aims to Go Beyond Quarterfinals At M'sia Open

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- The fourth China's women tennis player, Wang Qiang is aiming to go beyond the quarterfinals for the first time in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour event at ALYA WTA Malaysian Open. Wang Qiang, who will be making her sixth Malaysian Open appearance at TPC Kuala Lumpur from Feb 27 to March 5, reached the quarterfinals in Shenzhen but exited in the first round of the Australian Open. She made her best result in the Malaysian Open by reaching the quarterfinals in 2016. Her most impressive win to date was in 2013 when the then 184th ranked player knocked out top seed, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the first round of Malaysian Open. She also made the last 16 on her debut in 2012 and 2014 but faced a first round casualty in 2015. Wang Qiang currently ranked 78th in the world and achieved her career high ranking of world number 61 in August last year, is highly regarded on the WTA tour but she has underachieved so far due to inconsistency. "My goal for this year is to break into the top 30. I have set a high target for myself but if I can accomplish 60 per cent of that, it will still be progress," she said according to a statement issued by the organiser. -- BERNAMA