By Shrivathsa Sridhar MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Last year's runner-up Zheng Qinwen was sent crashing out of the Australian Open second round on Wednesday as her bid to emulate Chinese compatriot Li Na's 2014 triumph evaporated after a shock 7-6(3) 6-3 defeat by unseeded German Laura Siegemund.

China's top tennis star Zheng Qinwen and women's two-time defending champion Arnya Sabalenka recorded battling first round wins, while men's second seed Alexander Zverev produced a commanding performance at the Australian Open on Sunday.

Last year's runner-up Zheng Qinwen was sent crashing out of the Australian Open second round after a shock 7-6(3) 6-3 defeat by unseeded German Laura Siegemund on Wednesday. Olympic champion Zheng looked out of sorts in the day's opening match on John Cain Arena,

Zheng Qinwen is out of the Australian Open after a shock defeat to Germany’s Laura Siegemund. Zheng, the No. 5 seed and last year’s beaten finalist, lost 7-6(3), 6-3 after her serve unraveled in the fourth game of the second set.

Zheng Qinwen crashed out of the Australian Open on Wednesday, losing in straight sets to German Laura Siegemund in the biggest shock so far at the year’s first grand slam. Olympic champion Zheng looked out of sorts in the day’s opening match on John Cain Arena,