London, UK — In an electrifying match at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Queen’s Club on Wednesday, China’s Zhang Shuai and Australia’s Ellen Perez outlasted Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Britain’s Olivia Nicholls in straight sets, winning 7-6(3), 7-6(5) to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
The dynamic duo faced an early setback when they were broken in the opening game. However, they quickly regained their footing, showcasing resilience and teamwork. Perez delivered a spectacular overhead smash, igniting their comeback and leading to a tense first-set tiebreak. A double fault by Mihalikova on set point handed Zhang and Perez the opening set.
The intensity continued in the second set, with both pairs exchanging powerful shots and strategic plays. The set culminated in another nail-biting tiebreaker. Consistency under pressure paid off for Zhang and Perez, who capitalized on another double fault from their opponents to clinch the match.
Advancing to the quarterfinals, Zhang and Perez are set to face Timea Babos of Hungary and Luisa Stefani of Brazil. Their victory marks a significant step toward the title at the prestigious grass-court event.
“We stayed focused and supported each other throughout the match,” Zhang Shuai commented after the win. “It’s great to see our hard work paying off, and we’re excited for the next round.”
