SUZJOU, China, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- No. 4-seeded Zhang Shuai posted a straight-set victory Monday in opening-day action at the Caoxijiu Suzhou Ladies Open tennis tournament in China.
The event this year has been promoted to WTA 125K series level.
Zhang battled Chinese qualifier Han Xinyun for more than 2 hours before finishing off a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) win. She had five breaks, needing two to hold off Han and force the second-set tiebreaker.
A pair of Thai players advanced to the second round with seventh-seeded Tamarine Tanasugarn getting past Junri Namigata 6-1 4-6, 6-3 and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn racing by Chen Chin-Wei 6-1, 6-2.
Tanasugarn finished with six breaks and took more than half the points off Namigata's serve. Lertcheewakarn dropped 11 points over eight games serving and didn't face a break point.
Also Monday, Zarina Diyas took out Zhang Ling 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 and Lee So-ra advanced when Yang Zi retired in the second set. Lee was ahead 7-6 (7-3), 3-0 when the match was stopped.
