ROME, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China's Zheng Qinwen defeated Cristina Bucsa of Spain in the second round of the WTA Italian Open on Thursday, winning 7-6 (6), 6-2 in one hour and 35 minutes.

It was the first meeting between the two players. Zheng secured an early break in the opening game, but double-faulted while serving for the set, allowing Bucsa to break back and level the score at 5-5.

In the 12th game, Zheng held her nerve to save two set points and force a tiebreak. Trailing 1-4 in the tiebreak, the Chinese battled back to take the opening set 7-6 (6).

Zheng faced an early test at the start of the second set, but rallied from 40-0 down in the opening game to save three break points and hold serve. She then capitalized on a double fault from Bucsa to break in the fourth game before sealing the set 6-2.

Zheng said after the match that she was still not at her best, but added that more matches would help her improve.

"I've kept talking about concentration," she said. "Right now maybe I can stay focused for eight or nine games, but when I had just come back, I couldn't even maintain my focus well for three or four games. I think I just need to take it slowly, play match by match and first make sure I win the matches."

Zheng has now compiled a 12-3 career record in Rome, the tournament where she has earned the most main-draw wins on tour.

She also praised the playing conditions and atmosphere in the Italian capital.

"First of all, Rome is at an altitude that feels very comfortable for me," she said. "Also, the fans here are always very enthusiastic. Today, when I felt a bit low in energy, I could really feel both the Chinese fans and the local fans cheering for me, and that encouraged me a lot."

Her third-round opponent will be either Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Jelena Ostapenko. ■