China's Li, Peng fire as Japanese falter

MELBOURNE: Chinese pair Li Na and Peng Shuai led the Asian charge on the first day of the Australian Open Monday, winning their first round clashes in stifling conditions under the beating Melbourne sun.

Fifth seed Li, who reached the final in Melbourne last year, overcame Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-1 at the Hisense Arena while Peng, seeded 16, saw off the challenge of France's Aravane Rezai 6-3, 6-4.

But there was no fairytale result for veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm, who at 41 years and 109 days became the event's second-oldest women's singles player in the Open era.

China's Li, who became Asia's first grand slam singles champion when she won last year's French Open, complained she could hardly breathe after coming through her opener.

There was also a win in the first round of the men's draw for Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun, who came out on top after a five-set battle against South Africa's Rik de Voest 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

And Taiwanese qualifier Chang Kai-chen made it through her first round women's clash, beating Croatia's Petra Martic 6-4, 6-2.