Giant-killer Zhang back from brink of retirement
Print Edition
Chinese giant-killer Zhang Shuai revealed yesterday she almost retired last year as her career nose-dived, but decided to try her luck at one more grand slam — a decision that paid dividends.
Watched by her parents for the first time, the 133rd-ranked Zhang, 27, scored the biggest upset of the Australian Open so far, stunning world No. 2 Simona Halep 6-4, 6-3 to reach the second round.
It removed a huge monkey from her back, having lost in the first round at all 14 grand slam matches she had played before — the worst record of any top-300 player.
Once ranked 30 in the world, her serial failure at grand slams and a horror 2015 in which she fell eight times in the first round and six times in qualifying convinced her it was time to call it quits.
But her team told her to give it one more shot at Melbourne Park this year.
“The last few months I’m already 200, my ranking, so it was very tough. I was feeling very sad every day, I almost retired,” she said.
“But, you know, so many people help me — my coach, my parents, my team, also national team, my sponsor, always try to help me, give me more motivation. I didn’t think in two months I can beat the top two player. It feels like a dream come true.”
Zhang, who wept freely after her win, said she seriously considered quitting after yet another flop at the US Open in September.
“I was feeling so sad, I couldn’t win one match even. But I’m feeling no, I want to come back, I want try one more time, only one more time.
“I say, okay, I will try a last tournament — Australian Open. If Australian Open not good, maybe finish tennis. But I never think I can win here, win the first round.”
The upset was even sweeter as Zhang had her parents in the crowd for the first time ever. She wanted them to come for what she was sure would be her last ever game in Melbourne.
“Before, my father never come to watch me play, this is first time he travels with me. And also my mum,” she said.
“So this is big-time for me because I think, ‘Oh, maybe this is my last time at the Australian Open’ so I wanted them to come to maybe see my last match in Melbourne.
“I wanted them to come to see the last 20 years what I do. This is my life for like 20 years. They never see. So I wanted them feeling what I’m doing. So, yeah, this is so lucky my parents have come and I win.”
Zhang, who has won one WTA title since her debut in 2006, at Guangzhou in 2013, will now play France’s Alize Cornet.
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