22 September 2004	Wednesday	06 Shaban 1425

BEIJING, Sept 21: Top seed Serena Williams takes to the court on Wednesday for the first time ever in China, facing a challenge from Dinara Safina in the second round of the US$585,000 China Open.

Williams along with Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova will be the leading lights on court at the Beijing tennis centre, with both trying to make up ground after recent setbacks.

The 17-year-old Siberian-born Sharapova is fighting to raise her level after going five wins, four defeats since her July triumph on the grass. The second seed begins in Beijing against fellow Russian Tatiana Panova.

All four qualifiers in the field moved surprisingly into the second round in a Tuesday sweep of success. The day couldn't have gone better for underdogs, with Vera Douchevina, Emmanuelle Gagliardi, China's Na Li and Croatian Sandra Mamic all advancing.

Douchevina, one of six Russians in the field, overcame Germany's Anca Barna 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Swiss Gagliardi put out Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. The victory marked Gagliardi's sixth straight over Brandi dating to 1997 at Roland Garros.

Chinese fans were thrilled as little-known Na Li upset Australian veteran Nicole Pratt 6-3, 6-2. But compatriot Tian Tian Sun met her fate at the hands of Mamic 6-4, 6-2.

She will face a stern test when she plays Thursday agaisnt U.S. Open and bali champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. There was another day of disaster for Jelena Dokic. The 21-year-old who stood fourth in the world in spring, 2002, with five career titles to hand, was knocked out in her opening match by Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3, 6-0. The eighth-seeded Dokic, now ranked 43rd, has not won a singles match since early April, losing nine straight.

RESULTS (FIRST ROUND):

Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Jelena Dokic 6-3, 6-0; Emmanuelle Gagliardi bt Kristina Brandi 2-6, 6-4, 6-3;Na Li bt Nicole Pratt 6-3, 6-2; Vera Douchevina (bt Anca Barna 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 Sandra Mamic bt Tian Tian Sun) 6-4, 6-2. -AFP