MELBOURNE, Jan 14, 2008 - Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama joined China's Meng Yuan and Taiwan's Hsieh Sui-Wei in the Australian Open second round on Monday as other regional players wilted against quality opposition.

　　Sugiyama, playing in her 15th consecutive Australian Open and her 56th Grand Slam, won the first set 6-3 against Vera Zvonareva, seeded 23, before the Russian retired at 1-1 in the second.

　　Her failure to finish was always on the cards after she pulled before the Hobart International final over the weekend with an ankle injury.

　　Zvonareva's misfortune was Sugiyama's gain, setting up a second round clash against little-known Ukrainian Tatiana Perebiynis.

　　Meng, one of four Chinese women in the draw, battled back from a set down to beat Russia's Ekaterina Ivanova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a gruelling 2hr 38min and advance to a second round showdown with defending champion Serena Williams.

　　"Today was really tough out there, she was a very good player," the Hong Kong-based Meng, who has to go through qualifying, told AFP.

　　"After coming through qualifying I'm a bit tired but I'm hoping to do well this year."

　　Meng has never been beyond the second round in any Grand Slam.

　　While injuries prevented China's women, such as Li Na, Yan Zi, and Peng Shuai, making significant breakthroughs in 2007, Meng believes the game is rapidly developing in the communist country.

　　"The state of Chinese tennis is much better now than it was this time last year," she said.

　　"More people know about the game and more are playing it, and the tennis federation is giving us a lot of support."

　　Hsieh also had a fighting win, battling back from a set down to beat Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 2-6, 6-4, 8-6

　　There's was no upset for Aiko Nakamura, who was destined to struggle against world number one Justine Henin.

　　But the gritty Japanese can take consolation from giving the top seed a thorough workout, winning four games.

　　She eventually lost 6-2, 6-2 to a player now unbeaten in 29 matches.

　　"I was playing the best in the world and I just tried to concentrate on my own game," said Nakamura.

　　"She is in very good form, the best I have ever seen her. I was content with my form."

　　The last time the two met Nakamura, ranked 73 in the world, was on the wrong end of a "double bagel" 6-0, 6-0 thrashing at Indian Wells in 2006.

　　Aside from Hsieh, Taiwanese hopes took a hit when Lu Yen-Hsun was sent packing by France's Marc Gicquel 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-2.

　　Lu's compatriot Chan Yung-Jan was also on an early plane home after crashing out to veteran American Jill Craybas 6-4, 6-2.

　　Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn, playing in her 12th consecutive Australian Open and 43rd Grand Slam after coming through qualifying, took the first set off Austria's 19th seeded Sybille Bammer before crumbling 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-2.

　　The region's best hopes, China's Li and India's Sania Mirza, get their tournament underway on Tuesday.

　　Asia's top men's player, South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik, also opens his campaign on Tuesday with a tough test against Australian hope Chris Guccione.

　　Li, seeded 24, comes into the tournament on a high after winning the Australian Women's Hardcourt championships, successfully bouncing back from injury that kept her out of the last 13 events of 2007.

　　How Mirza fares will be closely watched after her preparations were rattled by a furore in India over a photograph that showed her bare feet resting near the national flag.