Zheng wins qualifier at Dubai Championships

Zheng Saisai won her second qualifier match, over Czech Andrea Hlavackova, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships while her fellow Chinese Wang Yafan and Wang Qiang both bowed out.

The 22-year-old Zheng won 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 to enter Monday's third qualifying group match.

Zheng said she started very well, "but made some mistakes in the second set."

"I played on a high level in the final set," added Zheng, who claimed to be in good shape and injury-free.

Valentine's day brought no luck to Zheng's compatriots.

Wang Yafan lost to world No. 82 Yaroslava Shvedova from Kazakhstan 6-0, 6-3. Upset with the overwhelming loss, the 21-year-old asked to stay alone.

Wang Qiang, 24, had a tough fight with German Anna-Lena Friedsam before losing 7-6, 6-2, 7-6.

"We played almost on the same level and I have to admit that in the tie-break in the final set I had a bit more luck than Wang," said Friedsam.

Commenting on her shaky performance, the 22-year-old world No. 52 admitted she had a cold during the flight from Germany to Dubai two days ago.

"I hope to recover quickly to be fit for tomorrow's match," she said.

Wang, a Tianjin native, said: "I played hard and gave it all. Unfortunately the match ended like it ended."

The tournament suffered a blow on Saturday when world No. 1 Serena Williams from the United States announced to withdraw because she had a cold.

World No. 2 Angelique Kerber, newly-crowned Australian Open champion, also pulled out of Dubai 2016, citing an injury in her right upper thigh." Endi