Tennis

Peng Shuai records first last 16 in Grand Slam

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-22 15:14

MELBOURNE - Chinese Peng Shuai reached her first Grand Slam last 16 here on Saturday by ousting Japan's youngter Ayumi Morita in straight sets in the third round of the Australian Open.

The 25-year-old Peng held off a big challenge from the 20-year-old Japanese to win 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 47 minutes despite getting a cramp in the right leg while serving for the match.

Peng, coming to Melbourne as the 54th in the world, became the third Chinese player to reach the top 16 at a Grand Slam after Li Na and Zheng Jie, and is projected to overtake Zheng to be the 2nd highest-ranked Chinese woman behind Li.