Melbourne, Australia — China’s Zhang Shuai and France’s Kristina Mladenovic showcased incredible resilience to secure a spot in the Australian Open women’s doubles quarterfinals on Monday. The ninth-seeded duo overcame a slow start to defeat fifth seeds Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei and Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine with a scoreline of 7-6, 6-2.
Trailing 0-4 in the opening set, Zhang and Mladenovic found their rhythm just in time. Zhang held serve to halt the slide, and the pair began an impressive comeback, winning 12 of the next 16 games. Their momentum carried them through a tense tiebreaker, where Zhang’s pinpoint backhand and a powerful volley set the stage for victory.
“We stayed focused and believed in our game,” Zhang said after the match. “Turning it around from 0-4 was a big confidence boost for us.”
In the second set, the duo maintained their dominance, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead. Mladenovic’s unreturnable serve sealed the match, sending them into the last eight where they’ll face top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, the 2024 Wimbledon champions.
“They’re the best team in the tournament,” Zhang remarked about their upcoming opponents. “We’ll enjoy every moment of the match and give it our all.”
Meanwhile, China’s Zheng Saisai and Wang Xinyu faced a heartbreaking exit. Despite a valiant effort, they fell 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 to Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova and Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in a thrilling encounter. Saving a match point wasn’t enough as they were edged out in critical moments during the deciding set.
In men’s doubles action, China’s Zhang Zhizhen and his Czech partner Tomas Machac concluded their Australian Open journey. The pair battled fiercely but ultimately lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to the 15th seeds, Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, in a match that lasted nearly two hours at John Cain Arena.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Zhang Shuai and Mladenovic as they continue their pursuit of the title. Their determination and teamwork have made them a duo to watch in Melbourne.
Reference(s):
Australian Open: China's Zhang into last eight with partner Mladenovic
cgtn.com
