Shuai Zhang defeats Magdalena Frech in fourth round of China Open

Chinese wild card No. 595 Shuai Zhang hadn’t won a tour-level singles match in more than 600 days, losing 24 consecutive matches. But now, she has won four matches in a row in straight sets, dispatching No. 23 Magdalena Frech of Poland 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the China Open.

It will be her third time in the quarterfinals after appearances in 2016 and 2018, but Zhang said she was more nervous now.

“This time when I come to Beijing, I have a lot of pressure,” said Zhang, referencing her 24-match singles losing streak. She said she didn’t want to lose another, especially not surrounded by Chinese fans.

But Zhang knew her time was coming. Her coach and fellow athletes were telling her so. And after making it to the U.S. Open doubles finals, she knew she was getting closer to a singles win.

“Even though I was seeing a losing streak in singles, I was closing the gap against the top players,” said Zhang. “So when I eventually had a win, I wasn't surprised.”

That first win turned into a second. Then a third. And now, a fourth.

Zhang started strong in the first set against Frech, winning four quick points to take the first game at love in a little more than a minute. Despite disparate world rankings, the players appeared evenly matched as they traded powerful shots across the net. Zhang broke Frech’s serve twice and saved three of four break points to edge out a 6-4 first set win.

In a show of dominance, Zhang broke every one of Frech’s serves throughout the second set. Zhang seemed to draw energy from the Chinese crowd, which chanted her name after almost every point she won.

“Super energy I get from them,” Zhang said in a post-match press conference.

For her part, Frech managed to break Zhang’s serve twice and remained stoic outside of a small fist pump after breaking Zhang’s serve in the fifth game. But Frech’s efforts were not enough to stop Zhang’s defiant march to the quarterfinals.

Zhang emphasized that she doesn’t want to stop: “My first win in [the] China Open, yeah, that's the best result.”

Zhang will face No. 15 Paula Badosa of Spain as the Chinese player aims to surpass her prior finishes at the China Open. Asked about her preparation, Zhang said she is focusing on herself.

“In this draw, everyone has a higher ranking than me. When you are barefoot, you have nothing to lose. Just step on court, just play,” Zhang said. “I never really think about the next match. Winning one was enough for me.”

—Reporting by Jared Rubenstein