Venus loses first round match in China

Venus Williams has been knocked out of the Wuhan Open in the first round, while Victoria Azarenka withdrew with a foot injury.

Top seed Venus Williams, of the USA, returns to Francoise Abanda, of Montreal, during the first round at the WTA Banque Nationale Cup in Quebec City on Tuesday, Sept.9, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jacques Boissinot)

France's Caroline Garcia has defeated Venus Williams in the first round of the Wuhan Open while wild card Victoria Azarenka withdrew with an injured right foot and will miss the rest of the season.

Garcia, ranked 30 places below No.18 Williams, won 6-4 4-6 7-6 (8-6) on Sunday and next faces Agnieszka Radwanska.

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova from the Czech Republic defeated Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-2) while Elina Svitolina beat Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-3.

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova also moved into the second round with an easy 6-3 6-2 win against Kurumi Nara from Japan

Zarina Diyas, Kirsten Flipkens, Karin Knapp and Alison Riske also advanced after dropping a set in their matches.

Lucky loser Annika Beck replaced two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka in the main draw.

Australian trio Samantha Stosur, Casey Dellacqua and Jarmila Gajdosova get their campaigns underway on Monday.