Chinese serving notice of improvement

China's singles involvement at the Australian Open is over for another year, but there were some encouraging signs for the nation's contingent at 2018's first Grand Slam.

After four Chinese players lost in the first round, the country's remaining singles representatives, Zhang Shuai and Duan Yingying, put up brave fights en route to second-round losses on Wednesday.

Zhang battled gamely in a 6-4, 7-6 (5) loss to Czech Denisa Allertova, while Duan could hold her head high for giving French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko a major scare before bowing out 3-6, 6-3, 4-6.