Kimberly Birrell vs Katie Volynets — Round of 64 — Wuhan Open. Volynets won 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.

Qualifier Katie Volynets was one game from losing in the Wuhan Open round of 64 before she came from a set down to beat Kimberly Birrell in 3 hours and 5 minutes. Volynets was ranked 74th, but the betting market still favored her against Birrell, the WTA No. 41, so the result was not an upset. Both players had trouble holding serve. There were 14 breaks in 33 games, and Birrell held in only nine of her 17 service games. The opening set had six breaks. Birrell broke in game 8 for 5-3, lost her serve straight back, then won the tiebreak 7-1. The second set followed a similar course. Birrell broke in game 9 for 5-4 and served for the match. Volynets broke back for 5-5 and won the tiebreak 7-3. Volynets made better use of her chances in the deciding set. She broke for 2-1, was broken straight back, broke again for 3-2 and won the match with another break in game 9. She converted three of her four break points in that set after converting only five of 18 across the first two. Birrell saved 14 of the 22 break points she faced and converted six of her nine chances. Volynets needed the third set to turn her pressure on Birrell's serve into a lead she kept. In the second round, she will face Hanyu Guo, the WTA No. 240.