Published: 10:47, March 7, 2025
China's Yuan, Zhang bow out of Indian Wells
By Xinhua
This combo picture created on March 7, 2025, shows Yuan Yue (left) competing with Simona Halep during the opening round of the Hong Kong Open, on Oct 29, 2024, and Zhang Zhizhen returning a shot during the men's singles round of 16 match against Thiago Monteiro of Brazil at the Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

INDIAN WELLS, California - China's Yuan Yue and Zhang Zhizhen were eliminated from Indian Wells with first-round losses on Thursday.

World No. 68 Yuan struggled on serve, winning just 50 percent of her service points and converting only two of six break points in a 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska.

Yastremska, ranked 46th, will face world No. 32 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in the second round of the WTA 1000 event on Friday.

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In the men's ATP 1000 Masters series, world No. 51 Zhang Zhizhen started strong against Canada's Gabriel Diallo but fell 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(7) in a rain-affected first-round match.

Zhang hit 11 aces, produced more winners, and made fewer unforced errors than 88th-ranked Diallo, who showed composure in key moments to clinch the match in two hours and 49 minutes.

Diallo will next face world No. 21 Arthur Fils of France, who received a first-round bye.