Bai Zhuoxuan hits a return during the women's singles first round match between Bai Zhuoxuan of China and Elina Avanesyan of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
MELBOURNE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Rising Chinese star Bai Zhuoxuan was knocked out of the Australian Open here on Sunday, losing 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to Elina Avanesyan from Russia on the opening day of the first grand slam tennis tournament of 2024.
The 21-year-old Chinese player hit seven winners for the match compared to her opponent's six but almost doubled Avanesyan's unforced error count and was hindered by a leg injury in the deciding third set.
Bai, the world No. 87, broke Avanesyan's serve at 4-4 in the first set, going on to win the set on her serve.
Neither player was able to take control early in the second set, with a streak of six consecutive breaks of serve from 1-1.
That streak was ended at 4-4 by Avanesyan who then had a set point at 5-4 that Bai prevented her from converting with a cross-court forehand winner.
However, Avanesyan won the set at the second chance, again breaking Bai's serve at 6-5 to level the match.
Avanesyan then capitalized on the momentum in the third set, racing to a 3-0 lead - at which point Bai received medical attention for a left leg injury.
Despite a heavily bandaged leg, the Chinese player rallied to win the next game but was eventually overcome in a total of two hours and 27 minutes.
Avanesyan will face either eighth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece or Japan's Nao Hibino in the second round. ■
Bai Zhuoxuan hits a return during the women's singles first round match between Bai Zhuoxuan of China and Elina Avanesyan of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Elina Avanesyan hits a return during the women's singles first round match between Bai Zhuoxuan of China and Elina Avanesyan of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Bai Zhuoxuan hits a return during the women's singles first round match between Bai Zhuoxuan of China and Elina Avanesyan of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
