Zhang Shuai claimed victory in the China derby and took home a prize of 430,000 yuan, joking after the match that she only plays seriously during these two weeks each year.

In the second round women's singles spotlight match, experienced Zhang Shuai lost just six games to easily secure the China derby win, joking afterward that she “suddenly found” an exceptional rhythm here.

It’s worth mentioning that this victory had a twofold meaning for Zhang Shuai: it marked her first win in four matches against Wang Xinyu, breaking her prior losing streak against the young compatriot. She also secured at least 430,000 yuan in prize money and 65 ranking points, moving her ranking up to 140. Following this win, Zhang will face the third seed, American star Anisimova, in the next round.

Before the match, opinions were divided on the outcome of this new-versus-experienced showdown. The head-to-head record clearly favored Wang Xinyu, who had won all three previous encounters against Zhang, including a straight-sets victory at the 2024 Zhengzhou tournament.

Many favored Wang Xinyu because she has been in excellent form this season, defeating top 20 players including world No. 2 Coco Gauff at the WTA 500 Berlin event and reaching her first tour-level singles final. As China’s second-ranked female player, she boasts a 62% hardcourt win rate this season and an impressive 78% service hold rate.

However, although veteran Zhang Shuai has had few standout moments in singles this year, her wealth of experience showed. Her comeback win over Zakharova in the first round of the China Open boosted her confidence. Being able to rally from a difficult position demonstrated the resilience of the seasoned player. Experts predicted this match would be a battle of “experience versus youth.”

Regarding pre-match odds, professional agencies favored Wang Xinyu to win. Still, some fans noted that despite the odds, this derby represented a clash of contrasting playing styles. Zhang’s strengths lie in her agile net play and rich match experience, excelling at seizing key moments. Wang, on the other hand, is known for powerful baseline strokes and quick reflexes, with noticeable improvements in her serve. Therefore, Wang’s victory wouldn’t come easily.

At the start of the match, Zhang quickly found her rhythm, using precise placement and varied tactics to take control. In contrast, Wang seemed unable to fully adjust to the pace, making several baseline errors. Midway through the set, Zhang broke serve and maintained her lead to close out the set. The first set was one-sided, with Zhang taking it 6-4.

Viewers in the live chat praised Zhang’s performance, saying she seemed to have “returned to her peak form.” One fan commented, “Zhang really gets a buff on the Diamond Court!”

In the second set, celebrating her birthday, Wang tried to fight back, but Zhang gave her little chance. The veteran maintained steady play, breaking serve multiple times to quickly build a lead. In the latter stages, Wang adjusted tactics but struggled to find openings against Zhang’s tight defense. Zhang ultimately closed the match with a 6-2 second set win.

Commentators noted during the match: “Zhang controlled the tempo completely today, and her experience was decisive in this derby. Wang didn’t perform at her usual level, possibly affected by the pressure of playing on her birthday.”

Although Wang Xinyu couldn’t celebrate her birthday with a win, her overall season remains commendable. As a promising hope for Chinese women’s tennis, she aims to achieve good results at the upcoming Wuhan Open.

After the match, Zhang Shuai showed her humorous side in an interview, sharing the secret behind her strong China Open performance: “Sometimes I don’t know why, but when I come to the China Open, to the Diamond or Lotus Courts, I just suddenly play well. Out of the 52 weeks in a year, I guess I only play well during these two weeks.”

She continued, “Mainly because I feel I need to work harder and be more serious in front of everyone. I don’t want to set a bad example; I hope to lead people positively and correctly onto the path of tennis.”

Speaking about age and her career, Zhang emotionally said, “At this age, if I don’t put in more effort than younger players, I might not even win a single match.” She emphasized the importance of Chinese food for her: “I had a big meal before the match, so even in the second set, I felt full. I knew I could beat my opponent because I was full of energy and vitality, all thanks to Chinese food.”

On social media, fans passionately discussed the match. A longtime Zhang supporter wrote, “Zhang has worked so hard! At 36, maintaining this level is incredible. We can only imagine the effort behind it. Keep going, Zhang! I think you can play for another three years!”

Tennis analysts commented from a technical perspective: “Zhang’s tactics today were very clear — constantly targeting Wang’s backhand and looking for opportunities to approach the net. This style requires courage and precision, and she executed it almost perfectly.”

Regarding Wang Xinyu’s performance, a fan offered a balanced view: “Wang wasn’t at her best today, but one match doesn’t diminish her progress. Hopefully, she learns from this loss and performs better at the Wuhan Open.”

Other fans noted that Zhang’s tennis philosophy is worth learning for Wang and many others. In a post-match interview about maintaining her form, Zhang said, “My only opponent is myself, my laziness. If one day Zhang Shuai doesn’t want to get up in the morning, doesn’t want to train, or play matches anymore, that will be my greatest enemy.”

Next, Zhang will face third seed Anisimova. The American rising star recently reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, making her a formidable opponent. But for Zhang, winning might no longer be the sole goal — playing on familiar courts and inspiring more people to take up tennis is the achievement she values most.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)