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Wang Qiang falls short in sour day for China at Australian Open

Xinhua, January 17, 2017 Adjust font size:

Slovakian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni kept her perfect record against China's Wang Qiang on Tuesday night, downing the world No. 71 in a tough 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win under lights.

Wang's performance improved over the world No. 79 since her 2-6, 6-2, 1-6 loss on Strasbourg's clay courts in May 2016, however it wasn't her night after Lucic-Baroni smashed 34 winners to Wang's 16 in the moments where it counted.

"I think I play much better than last time," Wang told reporters post-match.

"It's ok (I'm not progressing), I think I played well, and she played really really well."

Momentum that carried China's stars on the opening day had quickly turned sour on Tuesday after Han Xinyun succumbed to the experience of American "veteran" Irina Falconi in straight sets (6-1, 7-5), after an error prone first set saw her exposed to a second set fight.

"Second set I pushed a little bit more, played more winners and she feel (sic) pressure on her serve, made some double fault, a weak second serve and I had more chance to attack," Han told reporters post match.

"But after I have a lot of chance to break her, I still did not take it."

Zheng Saisai had a shocker of a match to go down in straight sets 0-6, 4-6 against D. Kovinic. Concentration was the key for Zhang after making 44 errors - 29 unforced - in the match, for only seven winners against the Montenegrin world no. 68.

But 22-year-old Zhu Lin can hold her head up high despite exiting early, putting up a solid performance in her first set against Latvian Jelena Oslapenko after qualifying for her first main draw in a grand slam.

"It's very tough to (progress) through the three round qualifier. I've never done this before, and I'm really happy that I did it despite not being very comfortable today with a body that feels very down," Zhu told Xinhua.

"I think it's just the beginning of my career, so I very look forward (to it)."

It's hoped the sour feeling stops Wednesday as Peng Shuai, Duan Yingying and 20th seed Zhang Shuai being their round two clashes.

Zhang won't take any chances in a repeat of her China Open round two clash against American Alison Riske after the "very tough game" that ended on a tiebreak.

Last year China's highest ranked player all but gave up the sport after a series of poor results with the racquet, only to come down under and secure an emotional straight sets opening round win against the 2016 second seed Simona Halep.

"I hope I can perform well in the coming matches," Zhang told reporters after her opening round win on Monday.

Peng faces Canada's Eugenie Bouchard - former world No. 5, currently ranked 47 - on Hisense Arena late Wednesday while Duan will be on court first up against former world top 20, currently ranked No. 88, Varvara Lapchenko from the United States. Endit