Peng Shuai ousted No. 3 seed Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania in Monday's first round of the Internationaux de Strasbourg in France.
The 22-year-old Chinese advanced with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win and will face top-seeded Marion Bartoli of France in the claycourt event billed as a warm-up to the French Open starting next week.
Defending champion Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, the No. 6 seed who beat France's Amelie Mauresmo for the title last year, also advanced with a 7-6 (3), 7-5 victory over Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic.
Flavia Pennetta of Italy, the No. 4 seed, defeated France's Nathalie Dechy 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while No. 7 seed Ai Sugiyama of Japan toppled Ukraine's Mariya Koryttseva 7-5, 7-5.
In Istanbul, Turkey, third-seeded Nadia Petrova beat Lilia Osterloh 6-1, 6-2 yesterday in the first round of the Istanbul Cup.
The 25th-ranked Russian will play Marta Domachowska of Poland in the second round. Domachowska ousted Marina Erakovic of New Zealand on Monday.
Also, Sorana Cirstea defeated Masa-Zec Peskiric of Slovenia 6-3, 6-4 to set up a meeting with second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round.
In Casablanca, Morocco, No. 1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France won in straight sets on Monday at the Grand Prix Hassan II tournament.
Tsonga defeated Albert Montanes, Spain, 6-4, 7-6 (10) to earn a second-round meeting with Algerian wildcard Lamine Ouahab.
Ouahab beat Argentina's Martin Vassallo Arguello 7-5, 6-2.
Countryman and fourth-seeded Marc Gicquel joined Tsonga in advancing, needing less than an hour to eliminate Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain 6-3, 6-0.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily May 21, 2008)