Halep survives tough opener

Shenzhen - Top-seeded Simona Halep overcame 10 double faults and a tough challenge from Germany's Annika Beck to advance to the second round of the Shenzhen Open with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory on Monday.

Halep, last year's French Open runner-up, was down a break in the deciding set before reeling off the final four games to clinch the match.

China's top player, third-seeded Peng Shuai, was upended by Russian Vera Zvonareva, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Zvonareva, a two-time Grand Slam finalist once ranked as high as No 2, is back on tour after missing much of the last three seasons due to illness and surgery on her right shoulder.

Other winners at the tune-up event for the Australian Open included Slovenia's Polona Hercog, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over No. 7 seed Monica Niculescu, and Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic.