Perth, Australia—China kicked off their United Cup campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Brazil on Friday, thanks to stellar performances by Gao Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen at the RAC Arena.
Stepping in for World No. 5 Zheng Qinwen, the 175th-ranked Gao Xinyu delivered the match of her career. Despite battling cramps and a powerful opponent in World No. 17 Beatriz Haddad Maia, Gao fought back from a set down to clinch a thrilling 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 victory in a marathon match lasting over three hours.
“I have no idea what happened; my brain was empty and my whole body was cramping,” Gao admitted after the match. “It’s a really big stage and it was a high-quality match. I just pushed myself.”
With China leading 1-0, Zhang Zhizhen took the court and dominated Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro. The World No. 45 needed just 54 minutes to secure a 6-3, 6-0 win, showcasing powerful baseline play that left his opponent overwhelmed.
“Because of my team, they’re doing a very good job,” Zhang said, reflecting on his improved performance over the past year.
The duo then teamed up for the mixed doubles, where they defeated Brazil’s Carolina Alves and Rafael Matos 6-4, 7-5, sealing China’s emphatic sweep in Group E.
In other action, Kazakhstan edged out Spain in a nail-biting 2-1 victory in Group C. After Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1, Kazakhstan’s World No. 6 Elena Rybakina leveled the tie with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Rybakina and Shevchenko secured the win in the mixed doubles with a 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 10-7 triumph.
As the United Cup heats up, China’s strong start sets an exciting tone for the tournament, promising more thrilling matches ahead.
Reference(s):
Gao Xinyu, Zhang Zhizhen lead China to 3-0 opening win at United Cup
cgtn.com
