Showing posts with label beats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beats. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Robson beats Radwanska in Madrid

Laura Robson achieved a first victory over a player ranked inside the world's top five by beating world number four Agnieska Radwanska at the Madrid Open.

The 19-year-old beat Radwanska, last year's Wimbledon finalist, 6-3 6-1 to progress to the third round.

Image of Jonathan Overend Jonathan Overend BBC tennis correspondent

How nice to see Laura Robson smiling again! Barring some good wins in Australia it's been a barren year with several morale-sapping deciding set defeats, so this was much needed and well deserved as she finds her feet on clay in the build up to Roland Garros.

She returned superbly - Radwanska unable to deal with the early pressure in rallies - and importantly kept her foot down.

The Pole tried to use the drop shot more in the second set, with a little early success, but failed to win any of her last five service games as Robson sprinted through to one of her most clinical and satisfying victories at this level.

Robson had endured a torrid few months, suffering a sixth first-round defeat of the year at last week's Portugal Open.

But the Briton was ruthless in Madrid, returning brilliantly to secure one of the finest wins of her career.

Robson, ranked 41 in the world, will play either Ana Ivanovic or qualifier Chanelle Scheepers - who play their second round match on Tuesday - in the next round.

The teenager went toe-to-toe with Radwanska until she broke the Pole in the eighth game of the first set when the 24-year-old netted to give the Londoner a 5-3 lead.

Robson served for the set and quickly stamped her authority on the match by breaking her opponent in the first game of the second set.

Radwanska's riposte was immediate, breaking Robson in the second game, but Robson then secured a third successive break of serve and held to eke a 3-1 lead.

The Olympic doubles silver medallist was breaking the Pole with ease and forced Radwanska to serve to stay in the match which she was unable to do as Robson claimed her fifth break to wrap up victory in one hour and 13 minutes.


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Sunday, May 12, 2013

Amazon beats Google with China apps

6 May 2013 Last updated at 11:31 GMT A Chinese girl uses a mobile phone The Chinese market has many home-grown stores offering paid apps Amazon has become the first Western technology firm to offer paid-for Android apps in China - beating Google to the lucrative market.

Google's Chinese store for its mobile operating system - the most popular globally - only offers free apps.

Amazon's move paves the way for it to launch its Kindle e-reader devices in the country, analysts predict.

Other locally-based services already offer paid apps to China which is the world's largest mobile phone market.

But many of the home-grown services face issues with malicious software contained within apps, some of which are pirated versions.

In contrast, the Amazon store, which launched over the weekend, promises "quality and safety testing".

Massive market

As well as curating existing apps, Amazon said it will work with local developers to create programs specifically for local users.

The move is part of Amazon's strategy to dig deeper into the Chinese mobile phone market.

Compared to its dominant position in other countries such as the US and UK, Amazon controlled less than 3% of China's massive 169bn yuan (£17.6bn) business-to-consumer e-commerce market in the fourth quarter last year.

Amazon apps in China Amazon launched its paid-for apps over the weekend

In December last year, the retailer launched its Kindle web store, but is yet to sell the actual e-reader devices.

However, China, like many countries in the region, has a thriving market in counterfeit electronics - meaning many consumers are already likely familiar with Amazon's product.

Apple apology

Key competitor Apple already has a significant presence in the country.

China is currently Apple's second-largest market, with more than 17,000 outlets selling its products.

The company says it has eight stores in mainland China, with another three in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong.

However, Apple's reputation among Chinese consumers has taken a hit recently after chief executive Tim Cook was forced to apologise to customers over "misunderstandings" surrounding its repair policies.

"We are aware that a lack of communications... led to the perception Apple's attitude was arrogant and that we do not care and attach importance to consumer feedback," Mr Cook wrote.


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