Sun sets up Serena play; Peng eases through

Peng Shuai smiles after winning easy. [newsphoto]

Sun Tiantian advanced to the second round of the China Open on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Russia's Tatiana Panova.

Sun will next face Serena Williams, who won this tournament last year.

"Playing against a player among the world top 10 is a good opportunity for me to learn from her," Sun said.

Another Chinese player, Peng Shuai,breezedpast Finland's Emma Laine 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the second round.

Top seeds Venus and Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova take to the court later this week. All three have first-roundbyes, putting them into the second round.

World No. 2 Lindsay Davenport withdrew with a backstrainbefore the tournament began.

Also Tuesday, qualifier Aiko Nakamura of Japan upset eighth-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives rallied to beat Russia's Alina Jidkova 2-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5). Another Russian, Maria Kirilenko, eased past Jamea Jackson of the United States 7-5, 7-5, and American Jill Craybas defeated China's Li Na 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.

(Agencies)

breeze: progress swiftly and effortlessly（轻松通过）

bye: the position of one who draws no opponent for a round in a tournament and so advances to the next round（轮空）

strain: a wrench, twist, or other physical injury resulting from excessive tension, effort, or use （扭伤）