BEIJING (AP) — Zhang Shuai’s week-long drought came to a screeching halt as Paula Badosa continued her own resurgence in a 6-1, 7-6 (4) victory to advance to the semifinals of the China Open on Thursday.
The Spaniard, ranked 19th in the world, has won 28 of her last 35 matches since May and reached the semi-finals of three of her last five tournaments. There was also a run to the quarterfinals of the US Open last month.
But the story of the week is that of Zhang, 35, who entered the China Open on a 24-game losing streak — the second longest in the Open era — and ranked No. 595 . She didn’t lose a set. in four matches this week.
The Chinese wild card, however, had no response to Badosa’s quick start as the Spaniard made three breaks of serve to comfortably win the first set.
It was much closer in the second set as Badosa found herself trailing 3-1. She rallied and edged Zhang in the tiebreak.
The former Badosa, ranked No. 2, will face No. 6 Coco Gauff or No. 115 Yuliia Starodubtseva, who play later Thursday.
Gauff advanced to the quarter-finals after four-time major winner Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw due to a lower back injury. The American helped carry bags from Osaka off the field.
Shanghai Masters
Italian Matteo Berrettini bounced back from the disappointment of an injury that ended his Japan Open last week by beating Christopher O’Connell 7-6, (9) 7-6 (6) in the Shanghai first round .
The Italian, who retired due to an abdominal injury in the second round in Tokyo last Friday, had his physical condition examined sternly by the Australian during a breathtaking match that lasted two hours and 13 minutes.
The next Wimbledon finalist will be 14th-ranked Holger Rune.
Other first-round winners included Marcos Giron, David Goffin, Jaume Munar, Zhou Yi, Jakub Mensik and Miomir Kecmanovic.
All 32 seeds received a first-round bye, including top-ranked Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won the China Open against the Italian on Wednesday. Sinner opens against Taro Daniel of Japan and Alcaraz faces Shang Juncheng of China.
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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
