Zheng Qinwen marked her return to action with a three-set win over Sofia Kenin at the Qatar Open.
Olympic gold medalist Zheng, in action for the first time since October last year following right-elbow surgery, beat 2020 Australian Open winner Kenin 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round where she will meet Alycia Parks.
Now ranked 26th in the world, the 23-year-old Chinese star made a statement as she threw down 20 aces in winning her season opener.
"When you come back from injury, it’s never totally pain-free,” Zheng said. “But generally I believe my elbow is in a good process because I could feel it.
"I’m in a really good stage, and I can keep going for another two hours serving,” she added.
Meanwhile, Russian fifth seed Mirra Andreeva kick-started her tournament with a 7-6 (7/0), 6-1 win against Poland’s Magda Linette after receiving a bye through the round of 64.
However, there were several high-profile eliminations on the day as American third seed Amanda Anisimova retired when trailing 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 1-4 against Czech Karolina Pliskova and British star Emma Raducanu, a former US Open winner, also had to retire in the deciding frame of her meeting with Colombian Camila Osorio 6-2, 4-6, 0-2.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
