WTA Guangzhou: Zhang Shuai Remains the Sole Chinese Contender, Wang Xiyu and Wang Yafan Exit in Second Round

On October 23rd Beijing time, the WTA250 Guangzhou tournament continued with the women's singles second round matches, following a one-day rain delay. Among the three Chinese players competing today, only Zhang Shuai secured a victory, while Wang Xiyu and Wang Yafan were both eliminated.

Zhang Shuai

Playing last on the center court, Zhang Shuai overcame losing the first set and an early break in the second set to come back and defeat Slovenian player Kaja Juvan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the quarterfinals. She has been the deepest progressing Chinese player in the China Open, Wuhan Open, and Guangzhou Open this year. Zhang’s singles wins in the Chinese season have now reached six, and her ranking has climbed to No.116. In the quarterfinals, she will face American qualifier Peyton Stearns, who defeated lucky loser Raluca Olaru 6-3, 6-3.

Wang Yafan

Wang Yafan battled for an hour against New Zealand-born Chinese qualifier Lulu Sun but fell 3-6, 1-6, exiting in the second round. Wang’s Chinese season has been challenging; she missed the China Open due to injury, failed to qualify at the Wuhan Open, and then lost in the first round at the WTA125 Jinan event. At the WTA250 Guangzhou Open, she secured her first main draw singles win of the season by defeating Rashimova in the opening round. Next week, Wang Yafan will compete at the WTA250 Hong Kong tournament.

Lulu Sun in Interview

After the match, Lulu Sun spoke in Chinese during an interview: “First of all, I want to apologize because I know Wang Yafan is a Chinese player, and it’s actually tough to play against her. But I understand if I didn’t play a Chinese player, you all would cheer for me. So I want to thank everyone for the support, and I’ll see you in the quarterfinals!” Lulu Sun’s quarterfinal opponent will be American player McNally, who defeated Tomljanovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Wang Xiyu

Another Chinese player, Wang Xiyu, fought a tough battle lasting 2 hours and 10 minutes against Italian player Cocciaretto. After leading 3-1 in the deciding set, Wang lost five consecutive games and was defeated 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, missing out on a quarterfinal spot. Cocciaretto will face second seed Ann Li for a place in the semifinals; Li overcame a 1-4 deficit in the first set to beat Osorio 7-5, 6-2. Sixth seed Potapova was eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing 3-6, 2-6 to German player Seidel. Ann Li remains the only seeded player left in the women’s singles draw at this event.

Guangzhou Women’s Singles Quarterfinal Matchups

[Q] Lulu Sun vs McNally

Jingwen Liu [Q] vs Seidel

Zhang Shuai vs Stearns

Cocciaretto vs Ann Li [2]

(Text and Editing by Wang Fei; Photos courtesy of the tournament)