Taipei  - Taiwan hailed Chang Kai-chen after she beat women's world number one Dinara Safina in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Monday.

Chang, ranked 132, upset Safina of Russia 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-5 in the second round of the event.

"She overcame great pressure to beat Safina. The Light of Taiwan shone on the international tennis court," the Chinese-Taipei Tennis Association said on its website.

Internationally-isolated Taiwan offers the title Light of Taiwan to all Taiwanese - usually athletes, performers and scientistis - those who won awards in international contests and helped raise the island's world status.

Taiwan's Broadcasting Corp of China lauded 18-year-old Chang for "re-writing history (of tennis)."(dpa)