Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic Exit Australian Open Women's Doubles Quarterfinals
Chinese tennis star Zhang Shuai and her French partner Kristina Mladenovic have concluded their impressive run at the Australian Open, bowing out in the women's doubles quarterfinals. The duo faced a formidable challenge against the top-seeded pair of Taylor Townsend from the USA and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, ultimately falling 6-1, 7-5 in a 70-minute match at Melbourne Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Zhang, who participated in three events at this season's first Grand Slam, showcased her versatility and endurance. She reached the second round in women's singles, advanced to the quarterfinals in women's doubles with Mladenovic, and made it to the last eight in mixed doubles alongside India's Rohan Bopanna.
Despite a swift first set loss in just under 30 minutes, Zhang and Mladenovic demonstrated resilience in the second set. Trailing 5-2, they mounted a spirited comeback, saving two match points and narrowing the gap against the reigning Wimbledon champions.
\"There was definitely a lot of pressure,\" admitted Katerina Siniakova regarding the tightening scoreline. \"We made mistakes, and suddenly it was close, but we were the ones who had the set up, so we kept fighting, and I'm really happy that we managed to finish it.\"
The match began evenly, with both teams level at 1-1 in the opening set. However, Townsend and Siniakova then seized control, winning five consecutive games to clinch the set. The top seeds continued their momentum into the second set, breaking Mladenovic's serve early to establish a 3-1 lead.
At 5-3, with Townsend serving for the match, Zhang delivered a stunning forehand winner down the line to bring up three break points. The duo capitalized on the first opportunity as Townsend missed a volley wide, keeping their hopes alive.
Zhang had a chance to level the set on her serve, valiantly saving two match points to bring the score to 5-5. However, at 6-5, Mladenovic faced intense pressure to force a tiebreak. Despite their efforts, they couldn't overcome Townsend and Siniakova, who secured the match on their third match point.
The American-Czech pair demonstrated superior firepower throughout the match, hitting 25 winners compared to the 13 from Zhang and Mladenovic. Both teams committed 14 unforced errors, highlighting the high stakes and competitive nature of the quarterfinal clash.
With this victory, Townsend and Siniakova advance to the semifinals, where they will face the rising Russian duo of Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider. Zhang Shuai's performance across multiple events at the Australian Open underscores her talent and tenacity, promising an exciting season ahead for the Chinese tennis community.
Reference(s):
Zhang/Mladenovic fall in Australian Open women's doubles quarterfinals
cgtn.com
