Zhang advances, Zheng bounced

PARIS - Zhang Shuai, the highest-ranked Chinese player, came from behind in both sets to defeat Croatia's Donna Vekic 7-5, 6-4 on Monday and advance to the second round of the French Open, while compatriot Zheng Saisai lost 7-5, 6-2 to world No 3 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

Zhang, seeded No 32 at Roland Garros, held her serve twice to tie the opening set at two games apiece. Vekic had the first break in the fifth game, and led 5-2 going into the eighth.

In the second set, Vekic came back from 2-1, 40-0 down in the fourth game to win three straight, but again it was Zhang who kicked off another surge by winning four in a row, highlighted by an ace in the ninth game.