Peng Shuai of China. (Photo : Reuters)
After expressing disappointment in Melbourne, Australia, in late January when she was beaten in the fourth round of the Australian Open by Maria Sharapova, Peng Shuai was ousted from her next tournament on Wednesday.
Peng lost to Misaki Doi of Japan, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, in a second-round match of the Asian tournament that is being held in the southern Thai location of Pattaya.
Wednesday's encounter was the first time that the pair had met on the court, while Doi's victory represented Peng's earliest ever loss at the Thailand Open event.
During her previous four appearances in Pattaya, which have been successive since 2012, Peng had always managed to reach the quarterfinals.
However, this year was not meant to be for China's top-ranked female tennis star, as she could not secure the third set after balancing the scorecard scales in the second.
After Peng exited the Australian Open, where she was the 22nd seed, she told a reporter that she was content with the way that she had played up until the fourth round.
"The (fourth round) is not bad, but it's not good. I want to get better for the next tournament and keep working and try to improve more," Peng said.
Over the course of last year, the Chinese athlete qualified for the semi-final of the U.S. Open and the fourth round of Wimbledon, and reached the final of the Shenzhen Open.
Peng also made it clear that she does not feel pressure after Li Na became the first Chinese winner of the Australian grand slam event. She said in the interview that she hopes to create her own history through practice and "working hard."
