CHINESE doubles specialist Peng Shuai supplied a shocking start to the second round of the U.S. Open by upsetting fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-3, 6-4 on a hot, humid Wednesday at Flushing Meadows.

    The doubles world No. 1 used piercing, two-fisted groundstrokes to put Radwanska on the defensive and claimed the biggest scalp of the tournament so far on her third match point with a backhand crosscourt winner that brushed the corner lines.

    Radwanska, winner in the Montreal hardcourt runup to the U.S. Open and a semifinalist at this year’s Australian Open, saved a match point in the ninth game to hold serve for 5-4 and fended off another in the next game before Peng’s last winner.

    Maria Sharapova also advanced, beating 95th-ranked Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

    World No. 2 Simona Halep of Romania beat the heat by hurrying past Jana Cepelova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round.(SD-Agencies)