The resurgent Daria Saville records her first top-100 singles win on hard court in more than a year at the China Open.

Daria Saville has made an impressive start to her China Open campaign, dismissing Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-2 in the opening round.

The 29-year-old Australian proved clutch under pressure in the 87-minute encounter, saving six of the seven break points she faced against world No.90 Siniakova.

It is Saville’s first top-100 victory on hard court since returning to the tour in June, marking another major milestone in her comeback from knee surgery.

This is also Saville’s first win at a WTA 1000-level tournament since she made the quarterfinals at Miami in March 2022.

Saville is currently ranked No.248 and used a protected ranking of No.54 to enter the draw in Beijing.

She will look to continue her promising progress against Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in the second round.

It looms as another big test for Saville, with world No.28 Kalinina eliminating the eighth seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the opening round.

Saville’s best result at the China Open, one of the tour’s biggest events outside the four Grand Slams, was a quarterfinal appearance in 2016.