Tennis player Grigor Dimitrov managed to secure a hard victory against Spain's Fernando Verdasco in his first encounter at China Open in Beijing.

Dimitrov won the match that lasted 1 h 36 min and ended 6:1, 3:6, 6:3.

After an easy first set for Dimitrov, Verdasco posed a tough challenge to the Bulgarian, who lost the second one.

However, a strong serve helped Dimitrov to take the game into his hands in the third set.

He will now be facing the winner of the upcoming game between Julien Benneteau (France) and Pablo Andujar (Spain).

Bulgaria's female No. 1 in tennis Tsvetana Pironkova also scored victory against Russian Maria Kirilenko, with a convincing win 6:4, 6:1.

Pironkova is most likely to have Serena Williams as opponent in her next match at China Open.