China Open: Wildcard Yuan upsets Mertens to reach the second round

Chinese wildcard Yue Yuan edged out Belgian Elise Mertens 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to move into the 32 of the China Open.

In the final 1000-level event on the WTA, first-round matches are already underway in Beijing, as a stacked field competes to reach the second week of the competition.

There are four players who are already into the last 32, however. Pegula, Sakkari, Pavlyuchenkova and Kudermetova have all received bye courtesy of a new rule allowing byes based on recent performance.

Yuan, ranked No 147, will face the winner of the match between Italian Jasmine Paolini and Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, the No 15 seed, next.