Quarterfinals to semifinals! Zhang Shuai jokes not to forget she is a singles player, while Guo Hanyu’s setback evokes sympathy.

In the opening round of the WTA250 Guangzhou singles, China’s Zhang Shuai overcame Russian Zakharova 6-4, 6-1, marking the conclusion of all four Chinese singles players’ first matches with a strong 3-1 win-loss record. Besides Zhang’s win today, Wang Xiyu and Wang Yafan also moved on, with only wildcard Guo Hanyu falling in a hard-fought three-set match to Bondar.

The match between Zhang Shuai and Zakharova drew much fan attention. Historically, Zhang has performed excellently at the Guangzhou Open, reaching the finals four times and winning all, including two singles and two doubles finals, making this venue her lucky ground. This deep connection and successful experience with the court undoubtedly boosted her confidence in this tournament.

From the world rankings perspective, Zhang Shuai is ranked 122nd, while Zakharova holds a higher position at 84th. Although the ranking gap seems significant, their head-to-head record shows that numbers don’t tell the whole story.

This was their second encounter following their meeting at the China Open earlier this year. In that match, Zhang lost the first set but eventually turned the match around in 2 hours and 2 minutes to win 2-1.

In terms of playing style, Zakharova is a typical aggressive player with powerful shots and fast ball speed; Zhang Shuai excels with precise serve placement and excellent return skills. A netizen vividly commented, “Though Shuai’s serve isn’t fast, its placement is as precise as a sniper’s.”

At the start of the first set, Zakharova quickly took control by using accurate deep baseline shots to pressure Zhang’s service games. She keenly exploited fluctuations in Zhang’s second serve quality and secured a break with strong offense. Despite being on the back foot, Zhang remained composed, swiftly adjusting her play, forcing errors from her opponent’s rushed defense, and holding her serve to level the score at 1-1.

In the following games, both players engaged in a battle of breaks. Zakharova broke again in the third game to lead 3-1. Facing adversity, Zhang raised the depth of her returns to regain attacking rhythm. She seized a mistake on Zakharova’s sliced return in the sixth game to aggressively break back and equalize at 3-3.

When the score reached 4-4, Zhang controlled the ninth game with efficient serving, winning four straight points to hold comfortably. Then in the tenth game, she capitalized on Zakharova’s forehand error, broke serve, and clinched the first set 6-4.

Entering the second set, Zhang maintained the momentum from the end of the first. She astutely noticed Zakharova’s slower second serve and scored decisively with forehand down-the-line shots, cleanly securing a break.

However, Zakharova refused to back down and attempted a comeback in the third game by adding spin variations and increasing attack intensity. She also took advantage of Zhang’s net volley touching the net to pull off a tense break back.

At this point, Zhang was fully settled. In the fourth game, she engaged in a prolonged rally during Zakharova’s serve, consistently returning deep shots and forcing forehand errors, breaking serve again to lead 3-1.

From the fifth game onward, Zhang dominated the match’s rhythm. Her service games were nearly flawless, keeping Zakharova on the defensive during returns. With strong anticipation of her opponent’s serving patterns, Zhang disrupted Zakharova’s rhythm completely. Ultimately, after another break and easy hold, Zhang broke serve again in the sixth game with four straight points, making the outcome clear.

In the final game serving for the match, Zhang gave Zakharova no chance for a comeback. Through steady baseline returns and clutch point control, she closed the second set 6-1, winning the match 2-0 and advancing to the second round.

Throughout the match, Zhang demonstrated the veteran tour player’s ability to adjust her form and maintain composure on key points. In contrast, Zakharova showed strong offense in the first set but suffered from fatigue and rhythm disruption in the second, leading to increased forehand errors and ultimately unable to withstand Zhang’s all-around pressure.

After the match, Zhang expressed great satisfaction with her performance, saying, “At the China Open against this opponent, I fell behind 0-3 right away and lost the first set quickly, only winning in the third set. Today, I beat her in two sets and even widened the margin in the second set, which shows progress over the past month. It’s not just technical but also mental improvement—I kept thinking of solutions on court and made progress in many areas. After playing all year, many players are tired. For me, maintaining stability and performing well at every event is a great achievement, so I’m proud of myself.”

In high spirits after advancing, Zhang joked with the crowd, “Young Zhang Shuai is back, don’t forget I’m still a singles player! I just happened to play a few more doubles matches by accident!” Her optimism and humor drew laughter from the audience.

The overall performance of the four Chinese players in the Guangzhou Open’s first round was encouraging. They collectively achieved three wins and one loss in singles.

Besides Zhang Shuai’s successful advancement, Wang Xiyu and Wang Yafan also defeated their respective opponents to progress to the second round.

Wang Xiyu, the 2023 tournament champion, showed excellent form in the first round against the 7th seed, British player Jones, winning 6-4, 6-4, marking her third consecutive year passing the first round here. She will next face Italian player Cocciaretto.

Wildcard entrant Wang Yafan performed strongly in the first round against Laksimova. Both players had nine break points each, but Wang converted more, ultimately winning in straight sets. In the second round, she will face New Zealand’s Sun Lulu.

The only disappointment was wildcard Guo Hanyu, who battled Hungarian player Bondar in a close three-set match, narrowly losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4).

After dropping the first set, Guo pushed the match to a deciding set and into a tiebreak. She initially secured a mini-break but lost momentum due to inconsistent first serves, allowing her opponent to score consecutive points.

Post-match, Guo revealed she faced multiple adverse factors including her menstrual cycle, skin allergies, and a sudden temperature drop. She admitted, “If it were before, I might have lost this match quickly under such conditions.”

Despite the loss, Guo’s fighting spirit during the match was commendable. She felt, “My opponent was just a bit braver, taking more risks and being more decisive,” indicating a very narrow gap between them.

From being ranked over 600 last year to securing a spot in next year’s Australian Open qualifiers, Guo Hanyu’s singles progress is evident. She once viewed ranking as a key goal but later realized, “Even if I reach it this time, my ranking might drop soon after, and qualifying can’t be my only aim. I believe that as long as I keep working in one direction, I will eventually succeed. So when I achieved it, I didn’t feel much surprise because I thought it was bound to happen.”

Although Guo lost this match, her performance has earned audience respect. Her progress this year is impressive and gives us higher hopes for her next year!

The strong showings of the four Chinese players raise anticipation for their upcoming matches. Tomorrow, they will continue to compete for a spot in the women’s singles quarterfinals. Who will keep their magical journey alive? Let’s wait and see!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)