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Roundup: Xu Yifan, Peng Shuai in Australian Open quarters

Xinhua, January 23, 2017 Adjust font size:

A win by Xu Yifan in the women's doubles capped off a difficult session for Chinese racquets at the Australian Open on Monday where Wu Yibing led the juniors.

Xu and partner Raquel Atawo downed the all China pairing of Liang Chen and Yang Zhaoxuan in a loud warning to quarter final opponents, second seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova.

"The match (was) not as simple as the score looks like, but today we completely suppressed the opponent," Xu told reporters after her 6-2, 6-0 win.

"We four know each other very well, (so) Atawo and I prepared well before the (match), and our tactics (were) very successful."

Xu joins Peng Shuai as the only Chinese players currently in the quarterfinals for the opens competition. Shuai and partner Andrea Hlavackova take on third seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina from Russia, Shuai's first appearance at an Australian Open quarterfinal.

"I will cooperate well with my teammate to do our best in the coming matches (and) hope we can go further."

Zheng Saisai, who lost her women's doubles match with partner Katarina Srebotnik against French pairing and top seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 6-4 on Monday remains an outside chance to progress into the quarters in the mixed doubles.

Zheng and partner, Austrian Alexander Peya face second seeds Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig, while Xu and mixed doubles partner Fabrice Martin face top seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Mike Bryan from the U.S for a quarterfinal berth.

Prospects in the juniors are shaping positive after Wu Yibing progressed into the boys third round, coming back from one set down to defeat Britain's Finn Bass 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The Australian Open boy's top seed became more aggressive in his service and return game in the ensuring sets, while rushing the net in more offensive play.

"I think it's worked," Wu told reporters.

The early pressure was "normal because a number of times I' ve been one set down, but I think I can manage it... be more focused and play my tennis."

Wu faces Frenchman Maxence Broville in round three, while China's only remaining junior Wang Xin Yu has yet to play her round two clash with top seed Rebeka Masarova from Switzerland. Endit