MELBOURNE, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese player Zhang Shuai’s resurgence ended in disappointing fashion on Thursday, as she fell to 24th seed Yulia Putintseva at the Australian Open.
Zhang was comprehensively outplayed by the Kazakh 6-2, 6-1 in just 62 minutes, committing 32 unforced errors.
Putintseva, who finished with only five unforced errors, barely broke a sweat as she moved Zhang around the court with relentless efficiency.
Putintseva will next face ninth seed Daria Kasatkina, who earlier defeated China’s Wang Yafan 6-2, 6-0.
The 204th-ranked Zhang had started the season strongly, earning her place in the draw through a wildcard and then beating world No. 47 McCartney Kessler in the first round.
However, Zhang’s form deserted her against Putintseva, who won the first five games. Though Zhang briefly rallied with a break late in the opening set, Putintseva recovered to close it out.
Continuing to dominate, Putintseva broke Zhang’s serve in the marathon first game of the second set and never looked back. A precise backhand winner down the line gave Putintseva a commanding 3-0 lead, leaving Zhang frustrated.
Zhang finally got on the board after a lengthy fifth game, but Putintseva wrapped up the victory, reaching the third round in Melbourne for the fourth time. ■
Zhang Shuai’s resurgence ends in 2nd round of Australian Open-Xinhua
Chinese tennis star Zhang Shuai’s impressive run at the Australian Open came to an end in the second round, with a hard-fought defeat against her opponent. Despite putting up a strong fight, Zhang was ultimately unable to advance further in the tournament.
Zhang, who had been enjoying a resurgence in form in recent months, had high hopes for a deep run in the Australian Open. However, she faced a tough challenge in the second round and was unable to overcome her opponent’s strong play.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Zhang can take pride in her performance and the progress she has made in her game. Her resurgence has been a bright spot for Chinese tennis fans, and she will no doubt be looking to build on this experience and continue to improve in future tournaments.
As Zhang reflects on her Australian Open campaign, she can take heart in the fact that she has shown she has the skill and determination to compete at the highest level. Her fans will no doubt be eagerly anticipating her next tournament appearance, as she looks to build on her recent successes and continue to make her mark on the tennis world.
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Zhang Shuai, Australian Open, Xinhua, tennis, resurgence, 2nd round, match summary, player update
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