Somdev makes the cut for China Open

Som­dev Devvarman recorded yet another come-from-behind victory as he defeated higher-ranked Italian Paolo Lorenzi to qualify for the ATP China Open singles event.

Ranked 97, the Indian ace recorded a 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over his rival, who is placed 12 places above Somdev, in the second and final round of the qualifying event.
Somdev had beaten world number 60 Robin Haase 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the opening round.
However, Somdev faces an uphill task in the main draw as he has drawn world number 31 Fernando Verdasco as his first round opponent. And if Somdev manages to get past the formidable Spaniard, his next opponent could be world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

In the doubles event, Leander Paes and his Canadian partner Daniel Nestor have been given the top billing and they will open their campaign against Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey.

Mahesh Bhupathi and his Swedish partner Robert Lindstedt are seeded second and they face Djokovic and Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

Azarenka upset

There was a shock in the women’s section as Victoria Azarenka's title defence wilted in the first round when the Belarussian lost to Germany's Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

There were no such worries for World No 1 Serena Williams and local-favourite Li Na as both powered into the second round with easy wins while third seed Agnieszka Radwanska was given an early scare.

Williams was barely troubled by her Russian opponent Elena Vesnina, needing only an hour and 25 minutes to wrap up the opening round 6-4, 6-2 win.

Chinese No 1 Li also had an easy time in the opening round, playing against her long-time friend Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia. The world number five used an hour and 30 minutes to defeat Hantuchova 6-0, 6-4 .

Radwanska, however, battled for more than two hours to make it past Stefanie Voegele 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.