IMAGE: China's Yue Yuan in action during the Hong Kong Open. Photograph: John E. Sokolowski / ReutersNo. 6 seed Yuan Yue came back from down 3-0 in the second set to win the last six games of the match and defeat former world No. 1 Simona Halep on Monday in the opening round of the Hong Kong Open.
Yue fired 22 winners and committed 12 unforced errors to beat Halep 6-3, 6-3.
The home court was also kind to China's Wang Xiyu, who came from 3-1 down in the second set to beat American qualifier Hina Inoue, 6-3, 7-6 (2). Also, Chinese qualifier Shi Han defeated Margarita Gasparyan in straight sets.
Another home crowd favorite was not so lucky. No. 4 Xinyu Wang couldn't hold on against France's Jessika Ponchet, who pulled off a come-from-behind 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win. Also winning Monday in Hong Kong were Australian Priscilla Hon and Bernarda Pera.
Jiangxi Open
Russian Elena Pridankina beat Germany's Ella Seidel 6-3, 7-6 (6) for her first WTA main-draw victory in the opening round in Jiujiang, China, on Monday.
Pridankina, 19, ranked a career-high No. 179, saved three set points in the second set to earn the win.
No. 1 seed Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic had to come back from an early break down in both sets to finish off Filipina Alexandra Eala 7-5, 7-6 (4). No. 5 seed Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia trailed 5-1 in the third set against Croatian Petra Martic before reeling off the next six games and winning 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 without ever facing match point.
Other winners Monday included No. 4 seed Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain, who beat Kazakh Zarina Diyas in straight sets, and No. 6 seed Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands who edged Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-3. Also moving on to the next round were Germany's Tamara Korpatsch and Czech Linda Fruhvirtova.
