NANCHANG, China — Top-seeded Zhang Shuai registered a straight-sets victory over 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki in first-round play at the Jiangxi Open on Tuesday.
Zhang hopes to clinch her third WTA title but had to fight for nearly two hours to beat her German opponent 7-6 (0), 6-3.
Zhang, who accepted a wild-card entry, will take on Margarita Gasparyan of Russia in the second round.
Thai qualifier Peangtarn Plipuech benefited when fifth-seeded Vitalia Diatchenko retired due to injury while trailing 4-6, 6-4, 3-1.
Other first-round winners included Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic, and Karman Thandi of India.
This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.