Chinese top tennis players Zheng Saisai, Wang Yafan and Wang Qiang registered their first victories in the 2016 Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Tennis Championship qualifier first round on Saturday.

The 24th edition of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships commenced with a match between current world no. 135 Wang Yafan and  25-year-old Slovakian player Kristina Kucova, who is currently ranked no. 140. Chinese registered the first win of the tournament as 21-year-old Wang outlasted her opponent in three protracted sets 6-3 4-6 6-2.

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According to Xinhua, the Chinese tennis player was often surprised by the powerful forehand of the Slovakian player. Wang played sharper and more focused, rarely allowing herself to be distracted by negative asides.

Wang, who is participating in the Dubai-based tennis tournament for the time first time, was superior in her long shots and displayed more energy and stamina, although she committed several mistakes while attacking close to the net.

Meanwhile, her countrywoman Wang Qiang, who currently holds the world no. 94 ranking, beat Omani tennis player Fatma Al-Nabhani in two straight set 6-4,6-4.

Al-Nabhani, who reached her best singles ranking of world no. 362, told Xinhua that she was proud of the experience in spite of her loss, "because we delivered a very dynamic match. I certainly felt that Wang Qiang is among the top 100 players of the world and she broke me two times. It was a very close match, and at the start of the year I have always a weak phase as I have to find my rhythm first".

In the other match, world no.72 Zheng Saisai eased past world no 143 Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey in two easy sets 6-1, 6-0. Zheng, 22, who is on her first DDF Tennis Championship, is hoping to reach many far in the tennis tournament.

TagsWang Qiang, Zheng Saisai, Wang Yafan