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Peng Shuai smiles after winning easy. [newsphoto] |
Sun Tiantian advanced to the second round of the China Open on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Russia's Tatiana Panova.
Sun will next face Serena Williams, who won this tournament last year.
"Playing against a player among the world top 10 is a good opportunity for me to learn from her," Sun said.
Another Chinese player, Peng Shuai,breezedpast Finland's Emma Laine 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the second round.
Top seeds Venus and Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova take to the court later this week. All three have first-roundbyes, putting them into the second round.
World No. 2 Lindsay Davenport withdrew with a backstrainbefore the tournament began.
Also Tuesday, qualifier Aiko Nakamura of Japan upset eighth-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives rallied to beat Russia's Alina Jidkova 2-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5). Another Russian, Maria Kirilenko, eased past Jamea Jackson of the United States 7-5, 7-5, and American Jill Craybas defeated China's Li Na 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.
(Agencies)
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