China's Zheng Qinwen took advantage of a last-minute entry into the San Diego Open to advance to the second round on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old tennis player from central China's Hubei Province got into the field when reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan pulled out because of illness.

Then, she jumped to a 5-0 lead on Garbine Muguruza of Spain before the 2017 Wimbledon champion retired because of a gastrointestinal illness.

"Actually, yesterday I could also sign in as lucky loser but I didn't choose to sign in because I was having an issue with my body," Zheng told reporters after the match.

"Today I was feeling better so I decided with my team to sign in as a lucky loser. I was lucky to get into the draw and I had a good match today. To get into the next round, it's double lucky."

Next, she will face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, the reigning French and U.S. Open champion, in the second round.

"The two young stars faced off for the first time in Paris this spring, with Zheng taking the first set before losing 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-2 in the Round of 16. It was the only set Swiatek lost during her dominant title run," a piece by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) reported.

"She's a good mover, she has a good slide on hard courts," WTA quoted Zheng as commenting Swiatek. "She has a good forehand and spin. She opens the court very well with the forehand cross."

"It will be a tough match. All the matches she makes, she makes the opponent feel they always have to be there to get the match, she will not give the match easy away. I think the key to play against her is to fight and play until the very end. Just play my game, she will play hers, and then we'll see the fight from each other.", added Zheng in the piece by WTA. 

(With input from Reuters)