KUALA LUMPUR: National champion Aira Azman was stretched to the limit by world No. 85 Wai Yhann Au Yeong of Singapore before advancing to the second round of the US$52,500 Australian Open in Sydney today.
World No. 44 Aira won 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7 in 35 minutes and will face her sister, Aifa, who received a bye in the first round, for a place in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
Compatriot Yasshmita Jadish Kumar went down fighting 16-14, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 to Hong Kong's Cheng Nga Ching, who will take on third seed Rachel Arnold in the second round.
World No. 87 Chan Yiwen made short work of Australia's Erin Classen to win 11-2,11-4, 11-2 and will face seventh seed Ka Yi Lee of Hong Kong in the next round.
In the men's competition, national No. 3 Sanjay Jeeva lost 11-9, 11-8, 13-11 to France's Toufik Mekhalfi in the first round.
Compatriot Syafiq Kamal fought hard against Tang Ming Hong before losing 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5.
