S. Williams, Peng advance at China Open

Defending champion Serena Williams overcame a sloppy start to beat Spanish qualifier Silvia Soler Espinosa in the first round at China Open on Monday when Peng Shuai won an all-Chinese battle to sail into the second round.

Ninth seed Ana Ivanovic breezed past Swiss qualifier Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1 while her Serbian compatriot Jelena Jankovic became the first seeded casualty as the 10th seed lost to French Alize Cornet 5-7, 6-3 and 4-6.

Williams, just turning 33 last Friday, fell behind 0-5 in the opening set before she collected herself to win seven consecutive games.

The world number one never gave her opponent any chance in the second set,blasting five aces and won 93 percent of her first serves to wrap up the match.

"I didn't want to lose 6-love. I just started fighting. I was like, just let me at least try to break here," Williams explained her sudden change in the first set.

The American top seed was forced out of the Wuhan Open second round a week ago because some illness. Here in Beijing, Williams said she felt better now.

"I felt good today. I definitely feel like I was over it," she said.

In the following match, U.S. Open semifinalist Peng shook off a tight opening to win her first match since U.S. Open, beating wild card player Zhang Kailin 6-4, 6-1.

The duo exchanged breaks in the first nine games before Peng nailed her own serve to win the first set. Peng broke Zhang three times and saved two break points to jump to a 5-0 lead in the second set before she sealed the victory.

Peng will next meet Wuhan Open winner Petra Kvitova who has a first round bye.

"Kvitova will be my opponent for the next round. I think she' s a really strong competitor. I saw her game. I will just give my 100% since she is really strong," said Peng.

For the rest of the Chinese players, however, Monday was definitely not a good day.

Bai Yan, the only Chinese male player in the main draw, fell to newly crowned U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-4 while Zhang Shuai, the second highest ranked Chinese behind Peng, lost to French Caroline Garcia 6-1, 6-4. Zheng Saisai failed to get past the first hurdle in the women's doubles.

Bai, over 400 slots down in the world rankings from the ninth-placed Cilic, did make the Croatian sweat in the opening stage of the match on the main court in the National Tennis Stadium as the first set went game for game before Bai broke down under the continuing pressure of the powerful server in the seventh game.

The beginning of the match would reminded people of the 2010 Shanghai Masters first round where Bai stunned Czech Radek Stepanek in straight sets.

"Before the match I watched his performance at the U.S. Open, so I know his form and performances. During the match I kept thinking what my next step would be. I was close to win points so many times," said Bai,25.

Cilic said he was not surprised by Bai's performance.

"I know Bai Yan from already few years back. I know he played pretty well once in Shanghai, beating Stepanek. So I know he could play well," he said.