With the countdown already beginning for the upcoming French Open tennis championship in Roland Garros, Paris, world no. 27 Zhang Shuai will be the only seeded player from China. She will start her campaign against Slovak tennis player Kristina Kucova in the first round. Her compatriot Wang Qiang will meet former champion Venus Williams of the USA while Duan Yinying will face Caroline Garcia of France in the opening round.

Meanwhile, no Chinese tennis player will secure 2018 French Open main draw spots through the qualifiers after Liu Fangzhou lost her second-round match to home player Harmony Tan 6-4, 6-2 in women's singles here on Thursday.

Liu was the last Chinese player active in qualifiers of Roland Garros after her three compatriots Han Xinyun, Lu Jiajing and Lu Jingjing all crashed out on Tuesday and Wednesday. Liu cruised to a 4-2 lead on her first break in the sixth game, before the 367th-ranked Tan adjusted her style of play and took control of the court for winners.

Tan grasped four straight games to wrap up the opening set, 6-4.

Tan did even better in the second set, and conceded just two games before marching on to the next round. Twelve main draw spots of women's singles at the French Open will be up for grabs through Friday's third-round qualifiers.

Five Chinese women's players: Zhang Shuai, Peng Shuai, Wang Qiang, Zheng Saisai and Wang Yafan will feature in the main draw from Sunday, either based on their rankings or for the courtesy of protected rankings.

(With input from Xinhua)