China enjoys an undefeated day at home

Inspired by Peng Shuai's straight-sets win over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, Chinese players enjoyed a wave of momentum on the third day of the China Open, with every player advancing.

Peng, ranked No 46 in the world, overcame agressive counter-attacks from Wickmayer in both sets to secure her opening match, 7-5, 7-5, ending a losing streak to the 22-year-old on the Diamond Court.

Li Na, ranked No 8 in the world, followed up with a breezy 6-2, 6-3 victory over Italian Francesca Schiavone an anticipated rematch of the 2011 French Open final, where Li upset Schiavone in straight sets to clinch her first Grand Slam championship.

Li, who bowed out in the opener last year, faced little trouble from Schiavone, who served 12 double fouls. Li will meet Russia's Nadia Petrova, who just claimed her 12th WTA title in Tokyo last week.

Russian No 13 seed Maria Kirilenko became the first major upset, losing to unseeded compatriot Ekaterina Makarova, 6-3, 6-3 in the morning session before former champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia beat Germany's Andrea Petkovic, 6-2, 6-4.

On the doubles side, veteran Zheng Jie teamed with Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia to knock off the Slovakian pair of Dominika Cibulkova and Janette Husarova, 7-5, 6-4, in first round.

Zhang Shuai, who defeated compatriot Wang Qiang in singles on Saturday, also claimed doubles victory with Chuang Chia-jung of Chinese Taipei, upsetting Natalie Grandin of South Africa and Czech Vladimira Uhlirova, 6-4, 6-3.

Sun Xiaochen

(China Daily 10/01/2012 page11)