Bai Zhuoxuan of China plays a forehand return to Elina Avanesyan of Russia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Jan 14, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

MELBOURNE - Rising Chinese star Bai Zhuoxuan was knocked out of the Australian Open here on Sunday, losing 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to Elina Avanesyan from Russia on the opening day of the first grand slam tennis tournament of 2024.

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The 21-year-old Chinese player hit seven winners for the match compared to her opponent's six but almost doubled Avanesyan's unforced error count and was hindered by a leg injury in the deciding third set.

Bai, the world No 87, broke Avanesyan's serve at 4-4 in the first set, going on to win the set on her serve

Bai, the world No 87, broke Avanesyan's serve at 4-4 in the first set, going on to win the set on her serve.

Neither player was able to take control early in the second set, with a streak of six consecutive breaks of serve from 1-1.

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That streak was ended at 4-4 by Avanesyan who then had a set point at 5-4 that Bai prevented her from converting with a cross-court forehand winner.

However, Avanesyan won the set at the second chance, again breaking Bai's serve at 6-5 to level the match.

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Avanesyan then capitalized on the momentum in the third set, racing to a 3-0 lead - at which point Bai received medical attention for a left leg injury.

Despite a heavily bandaged leg, the Chinese player rallied to win the next game but was eventually overcome in a total of two hours and 27 minutes.

Avanesyan will face either eighth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece or Japan's Nao Hibino in the second round.