After dropping from No.7 to No.13 in the updated WTA rankings on Monday, Venus Williams lost as many as nine straight games to Peng Shuai in the first round of the China Open, getting defeated 7-5 6-1.
The world No.223 Peng saved three set points in the first set and Williams’ free fall continued in the second set, as the sixth-seeded American lost all the games from leading 5-3 in the first set to going 5-0 down in the second set.
In recording her first Top 20 win of 2016, the Chinese wildcard was helped by Williams’ 24 unforced errors.
Tournament’s top seed Angelique Kerber advanced to the second round with a 6-4 6-4 victory over qualifier Katerina Siniakova, while second seed Garbine Muguruza won her second-round match against Yulia Putintseva 6-2 7-6(5). (photos: Jimmie48)
