Zheng and Li advance but brave Peng falls

LOS ANGELES: Chinese standouts Zheng Jie and Li Na advanced Tuesday at the $700,000 WTA Los Angeles Championship but it was Peng Shuai who provided China's most exciting performance, even in defeat.

Russian second seed Vera Zvonareva rallied to deny a determined upset bid by Peng before advancing to the third round with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) triumph in the US Open hardcourt tuneup.

Also struggling to reach the third round was Serbian sixth seed Ana Ivanovic, who outlasted American Vania King 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.