BEIJING: Asian number one Zhang Shuai crashed out of the Tianjin Open on Tuesday in the latest home-turf blow to the Chinese star.
Zhang withdrew from her match against unseeded compatriot Peng Shuai, who will proceed to the second round, without hitting a ball.
"I have some pain in the waist and knee," the Tencent Sports website quoted her as saying at a press conference in the northern port city.
"It's the second time I've had to pull out of the Tianjin Open because of injury in three years, which is very disappointing," she added.
The home soil loss is Zhang's second in a week after she was defeated in the quarter-finals of Beijing's China Open.
In another Tianjin upset, the US' Shelby Rogers, ranked 66, despatched Russia's third-seeded world number 19 Elena Vesnina 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 in a tight match.
Puerto Rico's Monica Puig saw off Japan's Kurumi Nara in a swift two-set victory.
Meanwhile, the USA's Alison Riske -- who won the tournament in 2014 -- beat Tímea Babos of Hungary 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to secure a second-round berth.
China has hosted an increasing number of WTA tournaments as it seeks more clout in the game.
The Tianjin Open carries a total prize purse of $426,750, according to the WTA's website.
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