Hong Kong number one Zhang Ling bowed out to eighth seed Mayo Hibi of Japan, but not without a fight, in the first round of the Chevalier Hong Kong ITF Women's Circuit tennis tournament at Victoria Park on Tuesday. She lost 7-6, 1-6, 6-4.
Zhang, who withdrew from the first three tournaments in the ITF series because of an Achilles injury, will look back on the match with frustration as she converted only four of 11 break points.
She will now focus on the doubles competition after partnering Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan to a stunning victory over number one seeds Pemra Ozgen (Turkey) and Ana Vrljic (Croatia) 6-3, 6-3 in their first-round match.
Hong Kong's Ching Wu-ho, who like Zhang was given a wild card into the event, also bowed out of the singles, losing 6-0, 7-5 to seventh seed Ozgen.
The ITF event lost its top seed on Tuesday, Magda Linette, of Poland, who is ranked 152 in the world. She crashed out to France's former world number 40 Pauline Parmentier, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The highest ranked player left is now second seed Diyas, who is ranked 163.