In a strong showing at the Australian Open, four out of eleven players from the Chinese mainland have advanced to the second round of the first Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park.
Fifth-seeded Zheng Qinwen showcased her skill in the women’s singles, overcoming Romania’s Anca Todoni 7-6(3), 6-1 in their first meeting. The first set was a grueling 75-minute battle, but Zheng prevailed in the tiebreak before dominating the second set. Her journey, however, ended in the second round with a 7-6(3), 6-3 loss to Germany’s Laura Siegemund.
Veteran player Zhang Shuai, 35, competing as a wildcard, secured her first Grand Slam win in two years by defeating McCartney Kessler of the USA 6-3, 6-4. Zhang’s experience and resilience were on full display as she navigated through the match with confidence.
Wang Xiyu returned to the spotlight at Rod Laver Arena, earning her first victory there in three years. She overcame Austria’s Julia Grabher 6-1, 7-5, demonstrating determination as she battled through a challenging second set.
Another impressive performance came from Wang Yafan, who rallied from a set down to defeat Hungary’s Anna Bondar 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. This marks her advancement to the second round at the Australian Open for the second consecutive year.
Despite their efforts, four other female players from the Chinese mainland exited the tournament in the first round. Wang Xinyu faced a tough opponent in 11th-seeded Spaniard Paula Badosa. Yuan Yue engaged in a marathon match lasting 136 minutes but was ultimately edged out by Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Grand Slam debutant Wei Sijia fought hard but fell to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, while Zheng Saisai concluded her return to the Australian Open after four years with a loss to Russia’s Erika Andreeva.
On the men’s side, Zhang Zhizhen delivered a commendable performance, pushing World No. 13 Holger Rune to five sets before falling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. His tenacity was evident as he challenged one of the tournament’s top players.
Shang Juncheng’s campaign was cut short due to a foot injury, forcing him to withdraw during his match against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Buyunchaokete faced a straight-sets defeat against qualifier Hady Habib, who made history as the first Lebanese male to reach a Grand Slam singles main draw.
The performances of the players from the Chinese mainland at the Australian Open reflect both the emerging talent and seasoned experience within their ranks. As the tournament progresses, tennis enthusiasts worldwide will be watching to see how these athletes continue to shape the competitive landscape of the sport.
Reference(s):
Four of 11 Chinese players advance to second round at Australian Open
cgtn.com
