By Shrivathsa Sridhar MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Last year's runner-up Zheng Qinwen was sent crashing out of the Australian Open second round on Wednesday as her bid to emulate Chinese compatriot Li Na's 2014 triumph evaporated after a shock 7-6(3) 6-3 defeat by unseeded German Laura Siegemund.

The 38-year-old Monfils used his experience and guile to top 21-year-old Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets.

China's top tennis star Zheng Qinwen and women's two-time defending champion Arnya Sabalenka recorded battling first round wins, while men's second seed Alexander Zverev produced a commanding performance at the Australian Open on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic betters a record previously held by Roger Federer after progress for Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Zheng in last year’s final.