Zhang and Peng bow out bravely in Paris

China's top-ranked women's duo were knocked out of the French Open on Thursday, but both drew positives from battling performances on a surface which is far from their favorite.

Zhang Shuai, the 27th seed, lost 6-3, 6-4 to her long-term training partner, Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania, before world No 41 Peng Shuai went down 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to French seventh seed Caroline Garcia on the clay of Roland Garros.

Zhang's hopes suffered a major psychological blow when she dropped a grueling 15-minute ninth game before conceding the first set 6-3.