Seles makes winning start in Hong Kong

Monica Seles defeated 16-year-old Peng Shuai of China 6-2, 6-0 Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Hong Kong Ladies Challenge.

Also advancing in the eight-player, four-day exhibition tournament was Chanda Rubin, who beat 2002 finalist Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-1.

Rubin will next meet either fellow American Alexandra Stevenson or Russia’s Anastasia Myskina, who play Thursday.

Seles will play either Russia’s Maria Sharapova or Bulgaria’s Magdalena Maleeva in the next round.