Chinese teenager Peng Shuai upset third-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the San Diego Classic women's tennis in California on Tuesday.

Peng took advantage of sixth-ranked Dementieva's weak serve to break the Russian seven times in 11 games for her third career win and second this season over a top-10 opponent.

"I'm happy, but I have to keep going," said Peng, playing in just her second tournament in more than two months.

The 19-year-old Chinese from Hunan province who resides in BocaRaton, Florida, said she has learned a lot from playing in a number of tough matches this season.

Her biggest career victory came against another Russian, then third-ranked Anastasia Myskina, whom she beat 6-1, 6-3 in the Sydney event in January. She also upset top 10-ranked Nadia Petrova in the same event.

Peng nearly upset top-ranked Lindsay Davenport at the French Open. She had a 6-3, 5-4 lead, and was ahead 30-15 before succumbing in three sets.

"It was a tough first-round match," Dementieva said. "She has a pretty solid game, the whole package. She's very aggressive from the baseline. She's playing at a high level."

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2005)