Zhang Shuai averted breaking one of the crucial unfavorable WTA information and now she funnily remarked that she feels on the Beijing courts like Rafael Nadal does on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
If you happen to in some way missed it, the Chinese language tennis participant ended a 24-match shedding streak final week after beating McCartney Kessler 7-6 (5) 7-6 (1). For the 35-year-old veteran, it wasn’t solely her first win of the season but in addition the primary time that she ended on the successful facet since 2023 January.
Had she misplaced to the American, Zheng would have come simply 4 losses away from tying Madeleine Pegel for probably the most consecutive losses in WTA Tour historical past. Over 50 years in the past, former Swedish participant Pegel suffered 29 consecutive defeats.
After ensuring she wouldn’t be writing unfavorable historical past, it solely received higher for the present world No. 595 as pulled off one of many greatest surprises of this season and upset No. 6 seed Emma Navarro 6-4 6-2. Then, she additionally overcame Greetje Minnen 6-2 6-3 to arrange a Beijing round-of-16 assembly in opposition to Magdalena Frech.
“I feel the large distinction for me is the courtroom, the floor, very totally different. On the China Open, this courtroom I feel like Philippe Chatrier for Rafa. Once I’m on this courtroom, I’ve every part. I imply, this courtroom, as a result of I grew up from Tianjin, Beijing, I’ve performed on this difficult courtroom for greater than 20 years each day. I feel my tennis is so pure on this courtroom, I can play my finest tennis on this courtroom. When some courtroom is much like this one, I can have good outcomes. We all the time say, ‘Oh, that is little much like China, like Beijing or Tianjin, the courtroom, the floor.’ That is why I play additionally very effectively in Tokyo and Seoul. Yeah, I feel that is the large distinction,” Zhang mentioned.
Zhang: Similar to Nadal on Philippe Chatrier, I really feel so effectively in Beijing
If you happen to return in time, you’ll understand that this wasn’t the primary yr wherein the Chinese language is having a memorable China Open run. 15 years in the past, her first WTA win got here precisely there after she beat Iveta Melzer. And simply after incomes her first win on the primary stage, she additionally induced main upset after beautiful former world No. 1 Dinara Safina in her following match.
Through the years, she has additionally had wins over different Grand Slam champions and former world No. 1’s in Beijing – she defeated Simona Halep in 2016 earlier than additionally overcoming Angelique Kerber two years later.
After making the Nadal remark, Zhang was requested if she may make clear why she made such a comparability.
“I mentioned once I’m on this courtroom, like Rafa on Philippe Chatrier, feeling so good (smiling). I do not know. I do not know why, however each time once I play China Open, I play so good, so effectively. Perhaps as a result of this courtroom and my tennis is so working, like Rafa on French Open (smiling),” the previous world No. 22 defined.
Zhang returns reward to Coco Gauff
Throughout her presser in Beijing, Nadal wasn’t the one one who received a point out from the veteran residence participant. When the China Open began and the Chinese language ended her shedding streak, Gauff regarded extraordinarily glad. And it wasn’t as a result of the American needed to simply look glad for an area participant however as a result of she had a great purpose.
Talking to WTA Insider, the 20-year-old revealed that Zhang approached her following her 2023 French Open quarterfinal defeat and mentioned that she was able to wager on her life that she would grow to be a Grand Slam champion. On the time, the present world No. 6 was going by means of a type of a tough interval however these phrases caught into her thoughts. Just a few months later, she turned a Slam winner on the US Open.
Requested about Gauff, the 35-year-old referred to as her “a great lady” and spoke very extremely about her.
“Not solely me is an efficient lady on the WTA Tour. There are such a lot of good ladies. Minnen is an efficient lady. Coco is an efficient lady. They’re good ladies on the tour as a result of we’re very related. We’re thoughtful. We’re heartwarming folks. That is who we’re. If you happen to’re a chilly individual, you ignore folks, how are you going to have good friendships? There isn’t any communication, proper? There isn’t any friendship,” Zhang defined.
“On courtroom we could be aggressive, however off courtroom we’re ladies. It is not like what you see on courtroom. We aren’t enemies, like what you assume, like troopers, warriors. We’re warriors on courtroom. Off courtroom we’re not that aggressive. We additionally want consolation once we lose. We additionally want encouragement. After we are injured, sick, we additionally need assistance. So do not assume that we’re all warriors. We’re simply abnormal ladies.”
