In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the China Open in Beijing on Thursday, China’s Zhang Shuai was defeated by Spain’s No. 15 seed Paula Badosa, who secured a straight-sets victory of 6-1, 7-6(4). Badosa advances to face the United States’ No. 4 seed Coco Gauff in the semifinals on Saturday.
Badosa dominated the first set, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead. Utilizing powerful groundstrokes and capitalizing on Zhang’s errors, she clinched the set 6-1 after breaking Zhang’s serve three times.
Zhang, a 35-year-old veteran and home favorite, rallied in the second set. She broke Badosa’s serve in the opening game with a return winner and consolidated her lead by holding serve to go up 2-0. Despite missing a break point in the third game, Zhang held her nerve to lead 3-1.
The momentum shifted as Badosa responded with aggressive play, exploiting Zhang’s increased errors. The Spaniard turned the tide, leading 5-4 and holding a match point. However, Zhang displayed resilience, winning four consecutive points in a critical tenth game to level the score at 5-5.
The second set ultimately went to a tiebreak, where Badosa edged out Zhang 7-6(4), securing her place in the semifinals. The match showcased high-level tennis from both players, thrilling the Beijing crowd with intense rallies and shifts in momentum.
Zhang’s journey at the China Open comes to an end, but her spirited performance in the second set earned her admiration from fans and peers alike.
Reference(s):
Home veteran Zhang Shuai eliminated in China Open quarterfinals
cgtn.com
