Zheng Jie of China advanced to the second round of the Japan Open with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 win Tuesday over Maria Jose Martina Sanchez of Spain.
Zheng broke her opponent three times in the final set at the Utsubo Tennis Center and will face Pauline Parmentier in the second round.
In other matches, sixth-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues dropped the first set but recovered for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Camila Giorgi.
Wild-card entry Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand upset fifth-seeded Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2.
Virginie Razzano booked a second-round meeting with top-seeded Sam Stosur after defeating Thai qualifier Nudnida Luangnam 6-3, 6-3.
Laura Robson of Britain, Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa and Mirjana Lucic of Croatia also advanced.
