Zheng Qinwen of China Photo: VCG

China's Zheng Qinwen came from behind to overpower Ashlyn Krueger of the US in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday while two unseeded Chinese players notched the upset of the day.

Zheng, now ranked world No.13, advanced to the second round of the season-opening Grand Slam event for three consecutive years after a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over the American. She will next face Katie Boulter of Great Britain, who defeated another Chinese player Yuan Yue 7-5, 7-6.

This year's tournament marks the first time in the history of the Australian Open that three out of nine Chinese players have entered the main draw as seeded players. But it was the two unheralded players who made the headlines in the first round.

Unseeded Wang Yafan came from a set down to stun 22nd seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania 0-6, 7-5, 6-2. Wang will meet British player Emma Raducanu in the next round.

In the men's singles, rising star Shang Juncheng became the first male player from the Chinese mainland to achieve a back-to-back second-round run in the Australian Open. In his debut at Melbourne Park in 2023, he made history to become the first Chinese man to win a main-draw match at the Australian Open in the Open era.

Shang outlasted Mackenzie McDonald of the US 6-3, 1-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a grueling three-hour and 26-minute match. The 18-year-old southpaw will face Summit Nagal of India in the second round. 

Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times that Zheng had a tough match while Shang has shown great potential to be a serious contender in the future.

"Look at Zheng's 12 aces to the opponent's three and her 28 winners. She has improved a lot and can stay calm at critical moments. I believe she could go further in the tournament if she could reduce her double faults," Liu said. 

"Shang has shown great resilience that is beyond his age. Physically, he is still improving. He is a diamond in the rough," Liu noted.

During an earlier match on Tuesday, 29th seed Zhu Lin fell short of Oceane Dodin of France 6-4, 6-3, while 30th seed Wang Xinyu was knocked out by another French player Diane Parry 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. 

Despite saving three match points in the third set, Wang Xiyu was edged out 6-1, 6-7, 7-5 by 27th seed Emma Navarro of the US after a tense match of two hours and 38 minutes.  

China's Zhang Zhizhen, now ranking world No.54, will take on 21st seed Ugo Humbert of France in the second round after chalking up his first career win in the Australian Open by beating Federico Coria of Argentina 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) in the opening round.