Peng moves past Yang into Kunming Open quarterfinals
ANNING, China - Top seed Peng Shuai moved safely through to the quarterfinals of the Kunming Open but was given a real test by wildcard Yang Zhaoxuan before winning, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
Yang performed well above her WTA World No.794 status to claim the opening set but ultimately the pressure from the 32-year-old, who is ranked as the WTA World No.39, told.
After her lapse in the opener, Peng served well, hitting 68% of her first deliveries in and chalking up four aces to move relatively comfortably through the final two sets.
Seven of the eight seeds had made it through to the second round, but like Peng they typically found life more difficult.
Dalila Jakupovic was No.5 seed and slated to meet the Chinese in the quarterfinals but succumbed, 7-6(3), 0-6, 6-1 to Elitsa Kostova, while also in the top half of the draw Amandine Hesse shocked No.6 seed Carol Zhao, 7-6(0), 6-3.
Zheng Saisai did make it through, though the No.4 seed was pushed all the way by You Xiaodi in her 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 win.
In the bottom half of the draw, No.2 seed Wang Yafan had enough to see off Ankita Raina 7-6(4), 7-5 to book a last-eight clash with Xinyun Han, the easiest winner of the day with a 6-3, 6-0 success over Peangtam Plipuech.
The other quarterfinal will be contested between Yanina Wickmayer, the No.3 seed, who beat Sabina Sharipova, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, and Irina Khromacheva, who powered to a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 win over Olivier Tjandramulia.
