SIMONA HALEP ADVANCES IN SCENZHEN 2015

SHENZHEN, China
Simona Halep, the No.1 seed at the Shenzhen Open, nearly saw her campaign cut short at the first hurdle but managed to get past WTA Rising Star Annika Beck in three tough sets. 

 Beck, who beat Halep on the grass courts of 's-Hertogenbosch last June - albeit by retirement - seemed keen on repeating the feat, sneaking out a break in the seventh game en route to taking the first set, 6-4, and going up a break twice in the second set, first at 2-1 and then again at 4-3. 
 After surrendering that second set, the talented German even broke for a 3-2 lead in the third and deciding set - but Halep was just too solid at all the right moments, winning four games in a row from there to close the match out after a grueling hour and 53 minutes on the court, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. 
 "It was my first match of the year, which is always difficult," Halep commented. "After the first set I knew I had to be more aggressive, hit the balls and open the court more, and I think I did it well. 
 "I was trying to fight for every point and win this match. I'm happy to reach the second round." The No.2 seed, Petra Kvitova, had a far quicker day at the office, cruising past Chinese wildcard Duan Ying-Ying in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. 
The early goings of the match were close, but from 4-3 Kvitova reeled off eight of the next nine games to make it past the big-hitting Chinese in exactly one hour.