World Aquatics Championships: China's Xu, Lin twins make strong start to artistic events
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The 19-year-old, who won five gold medals at the World Cup Super Final last month, was head and shoulders above her rivals in the solo technical discipline, as she began her bid for a first world title.
Xu posted a score of 265.8984 in the preliminary round, with Vasilina Khandoshka second in 254.8200 and Spain's Iris Tio Casas who scored 253.7691.
On a day when she was comfortably better than her rivals, Xu's only issue, other than the 'motivation and pressure' that came from being the favourite, was performing her routine in a cold pool.
'It was a pretty stable showing,' Xu said. 'I was a little nervous before the performance, because the water temperature here is a little lower than I'm used to. I was concerned if it would affect my ability to perform certain moves.
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'The pool temperature is lower than what we train in at home. It'll be important to make sure I warm up well.'
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