Sonay Kartal produced the second biggest win of her career as she continued her impressive comeback from long-term injury.
The 24-year-old from Brighton made a flying start against world No 12 Belinda Bencic in the second round of the Wuhan Open and went on to claim a 6-0 7-5 victory.
Kartal missed six months of the season with a stress fracture in her back, returning last month at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen.
She reached the third round in Beijing last week and Bencic is the highest-ranked player she has beaten after then world No 5 Mirra Andreeva in the Chinese capital last year.
Kartal told a press conference: “I trusted that I would be able to get my level back, I just didn’t know how quickly. I did a lot of things right today but I still think there’s a long way to go.
“I can produce the level, but can I sustain it – I think that’s going to be the hardest challenge. I’m happy to be back, I’m feeling good.”
Kartal swept through the opening set before Bencic, who was a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, responded at the start of the second.
The Swiss star took a 3-1 lead but Kartal battled back and secured the crucial break at 5-5.
“Super high level from me right from the start,” said Kartal. “A match like that it’s always tough to keep the scoreboard pressure when you’ve come out firing.
“Very happy with how I played in that match, the composure. I think I saw snippets from my tennis six months ago.”
Kartal is ranked down at 170 following her injury break but is already guaranteed to leap around 40 spots.
Seventh seed Iga Swiatek eased into the third round with a 6-2 6-1 victory over fellow Pole Magdalena Frech.