Beijing: Zhang Shuai The 595th-ranked home player said she “felt like Rafa Nadal” after reaching the last 16 to extend her all-time record China Open Sunday run.
The 35-year-old wildcard arrives at the prestigious tennis club having not won a singles match in more than 600 days WTA 1000 event in Beijing last week.
Her 24-game losing streak is the longest losing streak on tour since Madeleine Pegel lost her first 29 matches from 1968-1972.
Zhang Yixing, a two-time Grand Slam singles quarterfinalist who has been troubled by injuries, has now won three consecutive games after defeating Belgian player Gerrit Minning 6-2, 6-3.
Zhang Nan is the lowest-ranked player entering the third round in the history of the China Open. Her opponent is Minnion. She will next face Poland’s No. 23 seed Magdalena Fretsch.
“I haven’t felt this way for a long, long, long time,” said Zhang, a top-25 player who has won two Grand Slam doubles titles.
“When I’m at my best I can win a lot of games, I know that.
“I just want to keep it simple, keep going and keep winning.”
Zhang ended his losing streak on Wednesday, defeating No. 65 American McCartney Kessler 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1).
Then she shocked the U.S. Open semifinals Emma Navarro 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the third round and meet No. 94 Minnion.
When Jang Nara won the first set and broke serve in the second set, she was on track to make it three consecutive victories, but when the 27-year-old Mingnan broke serve, she immediately gave up her advantage.
An hour into the game, Zhang Yong broke serve again in the exciting seventh game to lead 4-3, and then maintained a 5-3 lead to enter the next round.
Zhang, who is from Tianjin near Beijing, said she felt very comfortable on the hard courts in the Chinese capital.
In fact, at home, she jokingly compared herself to Spanish great Nadal on his favorite surface at Roland Garros.
“When I’m on the court, I feel like Rafael Nadal on the Philippe Chatrier court,” she said with a laugh.
“When you lose, maybe everyone wants to play against you.
“No one wants to compete with you now.”
