Avoiding the illness and upset bugs were last year’s finalist, No.2 seed Zheng Saisai, who progressed with a 7-6(7), 6-1 win over qualifier Peangtarn Plipuech, and No.4 seed Zhu Lin, who survived a tough workout to defeat Zhang Yuxuan 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 58 minutes. Former World No.50 Jana Cepelova was another winner on Day 1, coming through 6-4, 7-6(10) over lucky loser Miyabi Inoue to book a second-round clash against Zheng, while 20-year-old Japanese qualifier Chihiro Muramatsu overcame Amandine Hesse 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Elsewhere, 2016 champion Zhang Kai-Lin got off to a good start, beating Hiroko Kuwata 7-6(3), 6-3, and teenage wildcard Ma Shuyue continued her strong 2019 form with a 7-5, 6-1 win over compatriot Xu Shilin. The 19-year-old World No.234 has already won two ITF W25 titles this year, in Altenkirchen and Hong Kong, and today’s result extended her season record to 22-8.