The 2024 China Open marked Shuai Zhang’s first match victory in almost two years. Her opponent, American Mccartney Kessler, lost to the Chinese player in two tight tie-break sets. The Chinese athlete must be the happiest tennis athlete on the planet today. Make that all sports.
Let’s take a closer look at the difficult journey Shuai Zhang has endured since January 30, 2023, leading to this long-awaited China Open victory.
The unbelievable losing streak of Shuai Zhang in numbers
Loss No. 1: January 2023 vs Maryna Zanevska [BEL] 6-3 6-2 in Lyon
Loss 2: February 2023 vs Anett Kontaveit [EST] 4-6 7-6(4) 6-4 in Abu Dhabi
Loss 3: February 2023 vs Petra Kvitova [CZE] 7-5 6-2 in Doha
Loss 4: February 2023 vs Qinwen Zheng [CHN] 6-3 6-1 in Dubai
Loss 5: March 2023 vs Rebecca Peterson [SWE] ret. at 3-0 in Indian Wells
Loss 6: April 2023 vs Julia Grabher [AUT] 6-4 1-6 6-3 in Charleston
Loss 7: May 2023 vs Anna Lena Friedsam [GER] 6-0 6-0 in Strasbourg
Loss 8: May 2023 vs Magdalena Frech [POL] 6-1 6-1 in Roland Garros
Loss 9: June 2023 vs Tatjana Maria [GER] 6-1 6-4 in Nottingham
Loss 10: June 2023 vs Emina Bektas [USA] 6-4 6-3 in Birmingham
Loss 11: June 2023 vs Harriet Dart [GBR] 7-5 6-7(5) 6-1 in Eastbourne
Loss 12: July 2023 vs Donna Vekic [CRO] 6-2 6-3 in Wimbledon
Loss No. 13: July 2023 vs Amarissa Kiara Toth [HUN] ret. 7-5 in Budapest
OOPS! Remember this one? See the video below.
Loss 14: July 2023 vs Tereza Martincova [CZE] 7-6(3) 6-4 in Warsaw
Loss 15: July 2023 vs Yue Yuan [CHN] 6-2 6-2 in Prague
Loss 16: August 2023 vs Anna Blinkova [RUS] 4-6 6-2 6-3 in Montreal
Loss 17: February 2024 vs Karolina Pliskova [CZE] 6-3 7-5 in Dubai
Loss 18: March 2024 vs Mai Hontama [JPN] 5-7 6-2 6-0 in Indian Wells
Loss 19: March 2024 vs Daria Saville [AUS] 6-4 2-6 6-4 in Miami
Loss 20: April 2024 vs Shelby Rogers [USA] 6-3 6-2 in Madrid
Loss 21: July 2024 vs Daria Kasatkina [RUS] 6-3 6-0 in Wimbledon
Loss 22: Augustus 2024 vs Diana Shnaider [RUS] 6-1 6-4 in Cincinnati
Loss 23: Augustus 2024 vs Ashlyn Krueger [USA] 0-6 6-1 7-5 in US Open
Loss No. 24: September 2024 vs Veronika Kudermetova [RUS] 6-4 6-3 in Seoul
And then finally, the miracle happens..
A WIN!!!
On September 25th, 2024 she defeats Mccartney Kessler [USA] 7-6(5) 7-6(1) in Beijing.
Next Match? Up against America’s Emma Navarro, and we do feel sorry for Shuai Zhang but we have to predict a Loss in 2 sets
Note: Her previous match win before today was on January 30th, 2023 in Lyon against Madison Brengle. Shuai Zhang beat the American convincingly 6-3 6-2. After that, the ordeal loomed..