In a match that had us all on the edge of our seats, China's own Zhang Shuai put up a fierce fight before bowing out of the China Open quarterfinals on Thursday. Facing off against Spain's No. 15 seed Paula Badosa, Zhang showcased her resilience but ultimately fell 6-1, 7-6(4).
Badosa came out swinging in the first set, breaking Zhang's serve three times and cruising to a 6-1 lead. But Zhang, a true veteran at 35, wasn't about to go down without a battle. 💪
In the second set, Zhang roared back! She broke Badosa's serve in the first game with a stunning return winner and quickly took a 2-0 lead. The crowd in Beijing was loving it! Even after missing a break point in the third game, Zhang held her nerve, winning four straight points to push the score to 3-1.
Badosa wasn't backing down either. She capitalized on Zhang's errors from the fifth game onwards, and the tension amped up as she led 5-4 with a match point in sight. But Zhang, showing true warrior spirit, rallied to win four consecutive points in the tenth game, leveling the score at 5-5. Talk about a nail-biter! 😱
Despite Zhang's valiant efforts, Badosa clinched the tiebreaker to seal her spot in the semifinals. She’s set to face the U.S. sensation and No. 4 seed Coco Gauff on Saturday. Tennis fans, mark your calendars! 📅
A massive shoutout to Zhang Shuai for an incredible run and for making us all proud. Your passion and dedication continue to inspire us! 🌟
Reference(s):
Home veteran Zhang Shuai eliminated in China Open quarterfinals
cgtn.com
