Zheng Jie survives Osaka scare

Second-seed Zheng Jie survived a scare before seeing off Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the first round of the HP Open in Osaka.

The Chinese dropped the first set 6-4 to her Spanish opponent, but battled back to claim a 4-6 7-5 6-4 win.

Zheng eventually closed out victory in two hours 43 minutes in a match which featured 11 breaks of serve from 18 break points.

The fourth and fifth seeds, Francesca Schiavone and Yaroslava Shvedova respectively, both crashed out, though.

Italian Schiavone trailed 6-4 2-1 to Russian qualifier Olga Puchkova when she retired.

Shvedova had no answer to Tamarine Tanasugarn as the Thai player brushed aside her Kazakhstani opponent 6-3 6-2.

Sixth-seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues was taken to three sets before getting past Camila Giorgi of Italy 3-6 6-2 6-2.

South African seventh seed Chanelle Scheepers had things rather more her own way as she swept past American Alexa Glatch 6-4 6-1.

Elsewhere, Virginie Razzano, Mirjana Lucic and Zhou Yimiao all made it through to round two.