Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova advanced in the China Open yesterday, but Caroline Wozniacki crashed out.
Sharapova got off to a flying start in her match, racing to a 5-0 lead over Carla Suarez Navarro.
The Spaniard was a match for the world No4 in the second, but Sharapova was dominant at the tie-break, finishing the match 6-1, 7-6 (3).
World No3 Kvitova defeated home favourite Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-2 in her first match since her victory at the Wuhan Open last Saturday.
Kvitova will now meet 16th seed Venus Williams for a tricky thirdround match.
Peng, who made the semi-finals at the US Open last month, took a 2-0 lead before the Wimbledon champion stormed back, winning 12 of the next 16 games and wrapping up the match in 66 minutes.
Peng had difficulty dealing with her left-handed opponent’s powerful serves.
“Some of the players, they didn’t really get used to left-handers’ serves,” Kvitova said. “So I think that’s my advantage.”
World No8 Wozniacki was hoping for a deep run in Beijing, but crashed out in her first match at the hands of Samantha Stosur. The world No21 Aussie battled in a tense second-set tie break, saving five set points as she wrapped up her 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory.
