Robson in Round 2 of Shenzhen Open

Shenzhen, Dec 31 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Britain’s Laura Robson booked her place in the second round of the Shenzhen Open, a major warm-up event for next month’s Australian Open, with a straight-sets win over Romania’s Edina Gallovits-Hall.

Seventh-seed Robson, 18, breezed past her opponent 6-2, 6-1 Sunday, and now faces another Romanian in the second round after Monica Niculescu beat Chinese wildcard Saisai Zheng 6-4, 7-5.

Elsewhere in the draw, Taiwanese fourth seed Su-Wei Hsieh knocked out Hungary’s Melinda Czink in a 6-3, 6-2 win and now faces German player Annika Beck, who beat Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-4.

The $500,000 hard-court tournament is being played for the first time.