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SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's tennis player Wang Qiang said here on Sunday that her goal in the 2017 season is to break into the top 30, after she knocked out Russia's Evgeniya Rodina in the first round of WTA Shenzhen Open.
Now ranked 72, Wang beat 86th ranked Rodina in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to claim her first victory in the new season and set up a second round meeting with 7th-seeded Romanian Monica Niculescu who eliminated Chinese player Zhang Kailin.
"It was my debut of the year and I'm feeling really good today. I practiced on my serve at least one hour everyday during the winter training and it seemed to have some effect today because I delivered 5 Aces, " said the 24-year-old.
Beginning playing tennis at the age of 9, Wang's highest ranking was the 61st position in August, 2016 and now she is eyeing the top 30 in the new year.
"I wanted to set a goal of relatively high level, so even if I only accomplished 60 percent of that, it is still a big progress for me," Wang told the press conference.
"Shenzhen Open is the start of the 2017 season, so I hope I can do better than I did last year," she said.
Wang entered the last eight here in 2016, before losing to top seed and eventual champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarter-finals.
