Home veteran Zhang Shuai continued her inspired surge in the China Open 2024. She came into the WTA 1000 event without a win in 603 days but now has four in a row to the quarter-finals. Zhang defeated No. 31 and Guadalajara champion Magdalena Frech 6-4, 6-2 in the Round of 16.
The 35-year-old Chinese player managed to reach her third career China Open last 8, now the lowest-ranked quarterfinalist in the tournament’s history. She will face No. 19 Paula Badosa who dumped US Open finalist Jessica Pegula convincingly, 6-4, 6-0.
The Record Has Turned Back into Something Amazing
Zhang came into the China Open after losing 24 singles matches in a row. Former World No. 22 Zhang received a wildcard despite her ranking falling to 595th following a series of injuries and a six-month break from the sport. But everything changed in the first round when she defeated American player McCartney Kessler 7-6, 7-6. She has gone on to record three more straight-set wins.
Her long-awaited victory was followed by a historic result against the US Open semi-finalist and World No. 8 Emma Navarro. She set a record as the lowest-ranked player to beat a top-10 opponent in the tournament’s history. She then rolled past Greet Minnen and Magdalena Frech to reach the quarter-finals.
The Winning Spirit Becomes Zhang’s Power
Zhang now feels transformed. She has still not dropped a set and can’t stop winning. She even believed that now nobody wants to play against her – just like Rafael Nadal on Court Philippe-Chartier. Well, that included the 23rd seed Frech who was in-form and had won her last seven matches in a row to win the WTA Guadalajara tournament two weeks ago.
She had tremendous support from the crowd on the National Day holiday during her battle against Frech. “Your applause, cheers, and support are my greatest motivation,” Zhang said After previous appearances in 2016 and 2018, Zhang will next face Spain’s Paula Badosa who defeated the second-seeded Jessica Pegula.
Zhang’s Journey Inspires Gauff and Osaka
Zhang’s incredible journey turned out to be an inspiring journey for her fellow tennis players. Coco Gauff, once Zhang’s double partner, paid tribute to her. Gauff claimed she learned a lot from Zhang, especially the way she managed her losing streak record with great emotional management. “She would still say hi to me and be so excited to see me, which, I’m not like that after I lose. That just shows the type of person she is,” Gauff said.
Naomi Osaka also praised Zhang who managed to handle something Osaka would say was extremely scary. And Osaka praised her love for the sport. “Because I see her practicing every day after she loses or whenever we’re at the same tournament. She’s just a really pure person,” Osaka said.
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