Zhang Shuai started the defense of her title at the WTA 250 Lyon Open with a victory

Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai started the defense of her title at the WTA 250 Open 6e Sens Metropole de Lyon with a victory.

The second-seeded Chinese player qualified for the second round of the competition after defeating Madison Brengle (USA) by 2-0 (6:3, 6:2) in just over an hour. After an even start, Zhang Shuai, who is ranked 23rd in the world, took seven out of nine games to win the first set and take a 3:1 lead in the second, and there was no trouble until the end.

Thus, the 34-year-old Asian will play for a place in the quarterfinals against Maryna Zanevska (Belgium), who eliminated Dalma Gálfi (Hungary) by 2-0 (6:1, 7:6) at the start of the main draw.

The finalist in the 2021 competition, Viktorija Golubic (Switzerland), was eliminated in the first round by the seventh-seeded Danka Kovinic (Montenegro) by 0-2 (1:6, 4:6). Danka Kovinic went on a run of eight straight games to take a set and 3:0 lead before holding on to the advantage.

Thus, she will play against the Hungarian Anna Bondar, who eliminated the Spanish Nuria Parrizas-Diaz by 2-0 (6:4, 6:4).