Zhu Lin’s loss to Xiaomi La is described as sweet in her heart after the match, while Zhang Shuai aims to learn advanced techniques in her battle against Anisimova.

Whether it is Zhu Lin, who has already lost, or Zhang Shuai, who might lose soon, the current discussion about these two Chinese tennis stars suggests that the match outcomes will not affect their spirits at all.

After Zhu Lin successfully passed the first round at the China Open, although she was not favored in the second round against the Russian prodigy Andreyeva, many still believed that with Zhu Lin’s current form, she could give Xiaomi La a good fight; even if she lost, the score would likely not be too one-sided.

However, some others thought that despite Zhu Lin’s greater experience compared to Andreyeva, whether one wants to admit it or not, Andreyeva was like a towering mountain in front of Zhu Lin, making it hard to trouble her. The odds reflected this: Xiaomi La’s odds were 1 to 1.17, while Zhu Lin’s were 1 to 5.0. Such a huge disparity in odds is not arbitrary—how could the Chinese star challenge her opponent effectively?

It must be said that some fans and netizens have very accurate insights. After the match between Zhu Lin and Andreyeva ended, considering that the Chinese player only won four games in the entire match, it became clear how significant the gap was between them; Zhu Lin’s 2-6, 2-6 loss confirmed that those who called Andreyeva a mountain before the match were just stating the reality based on their strength, not trying to disrespect Zhu Lin.

From sweeping her opponent in the first round to being swept by Andreyeva in the second, many assumed Zhu Lin must have been very upset losing on home soil, but that may not necessarily be true.

“It was a tough match, and I have liked watching Zhu Lin’s games since I was young.” Although outsiders might see Zhu Lin’s defeat by such a score as an easy win for Andreyeva, possibly less intense than a practice match, the Russian girl admitted after the match that the difficulty did not fully show in the score. Especially when she said she had admired Zhu Lin since childhood, expressing her fondness for the Chinese star openly, many felt that if Zhu Lin knew this, the sweetness in her heart would instantly wash away any frustration and bring a smile—losing to a young fan like this is nothing to be sad about.

The reason Zhang Shuai is thought unlikely to be unhappy even if she loses to the American Anisimova is even more admirable.

The 36-year-old Chinese veteran swept compatriot Wang Xinyu in straight sets in the second round, but when it was announced she would face Anisimova in the third round, many thought Zhang’s draw was unlucky. Each opponent she faced was tougher than the last, and after finally passing Wang Xinyu, she was just one step away from matching last year’s round of 16, only to be blocked by the formidable Anisimova, leaving people feeling helpless and speechless.

In terms of age, 36-year-old Zhang Shuai has no advantage over 24-year-old Anisimova; overall, the American girl is clearly stronger. Because of this, many lamented the harshness of fate for the veteran, who was stopped at such a crucial moment, and this added a sense of sadness to Zhang’s story in advance.

But Zhang Shuai thinks differently, displaying a mindset that is hard to imagine.

“Anisimova actually debuted as a teenage prodigy. I have seen her since she started because we played at the Miami tournament in the same circle. She received wildcards at a very young age since she was signed by IMG. At that time, I thought wow, this girl is so young and plays so well. Seeing her go through many ups and downs both in life and tennis and then come back to compete again truly makes me happy from the bottom of my heart.” Many who read Zhang’s praise for Anisimova said it’s no wonder she has so many friends; with such a mindset and character, who wouldn’t want to be her friend?

What makes Zhang Shuai truly worthy of admiration is not that she praised Anisimova excessively, but her unique attitude toward this match.

“Actually, every player I face now is much younger than me. I am constantly learning from each and every one of them—their advanced ideas and playing styles. So I just want to enjoy the next match.” For Zhang Shuai, the match against Anisimova is not about winning or losing but about learning what she wants from the younger American player, which is far more important than the result.

After hearing Zhang Shuai’s remarks about this key match against Anisimova, many fans and netizens said they no longer worry about her being embarrassed if swept; instead, “her level of maturity gives us a new way to appreciate the match—no tension, no worries, only relaxation and joy.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)