China's tennis squad is making headlines down under! 
Despite a 2-1 loss to defending champions Germany in Group E on Monday, China has advanced to the quarterfinals at the United Cup in Perth, Australia. Talk about resilience! 
First on the court was Zhang Zhizhen, who faced off against World No. 2 Alexander Zverev. Zhang came out swinging, breaking Zverev's serve in the first and seventh games to take a commanding 5-2 lead in the first set. Even though Zverev saved two set points in the eighth game, he couldn't stop Zhang from sealing the set 6-2. Advantage, China! 
But the German ace wasn't backing down. Zverev roared back in the second set, snagging six consecutive games to even the match at 1-1. The tension was real as both players held their serves early in the third set. However, Zverev managed to break Zhang twice in the sixth and eighth games, closing out the final set 6-2 and giving Germany a 1-0 lead. What a nail-biter! 
Despite the day's results, China's overall performance in the group stages has secured their spot in the knockout rounds. The team's determination and skill have fans buzzing with excitement as they move forward in the tournament. Keep an eye on these rising stars as they continue to make their mark on the global stage! 
Reference(s):
China advance to United Cup knockout stage despite loss to Germany
cgtn.com
