NINGBO, China, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Multiple first-round matches of the WTA Ningbo Open were postponed due to rain on Tuesday, while Chinese players Wang Xiyu and Ma Yaxin completed their matches and advanced to the second round.
Wang faced Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova in her opening match and secured a dominant 6-2, 6-0 victory. Fellow Chinese Wang Yafan, who qualified for the main draw, had to withdraw from her first-round match due to a waist injury.
You Xiaodi had been originally scheduled to play against Russian qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova, but the latter withdrew due to injury. As a result, Ma replaced Alexandrova in the main draw as a lucky loser. Although You had won both of their previous encounters, Ma prevailed 6-2, 6-2 in their third head-to-head.
In her first round against Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic, China's Yuan Yue won the first set 6-4, but heavy rain interrupted the match shortly after the start of the second set. The match between Karolina Muchova and Australian player Olivia Gadecki was postponed due to rain as well.
The Ningbo Open has been upgraded to a WTA 500 event from a WTA 250 one this year, attracting several high-ranked players. The top four seeds receive byes in the first round. Second-seeded Zheng Qinwen of China, who reached her first WTA 1000 final in Wuhan last week, is placed in the bottom half of the draw. ■
