China Open: Martic comes through epic with Cirstea to make the last 32

Croat Petra Martic edged out Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (3) to move into the 32 of the China Open.

In the final 1000-level event on the WTA, first-round matches are already underway in Beijing, as a stacked field competes to reach the second week of the competition.

There are four players who are already into the last 32, however. Pegula, Sakkari, Pavlyuchenkova and Kudermetova have all received bye courtesy of a new rule allowing byes based on recent performance.

Martic, ranked No 49, will face the winner of the match between Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova and American Coco Gauff, the No 3 seed, next.