Zhang Shuai's battle with Anisimova has been called a tennis version of heaven and hell, while the outcome between Zheng Qinwen and Noskova hangs by a thread.

Following the conclusion of Zhang Shuai's match with the American Anisimova, despite the common understanding that it was difficult for the 36-year-old Chinese veteran to secure a victory, the process was far more painful than expected.

After the match, many people reviewing Zhang Shuai’s performance remarked that if anyone wants to see what a journey from heaven to hell looks like, Zhang Shuai’s battle against Anisimova has already illustrated it.

Before the match, the odds set by bookmakers were heavily skewed: Anisimova at 1.17 and Zhang Shuai at 5.0. These odds clearly indicated that Zhang Shuai had almost no chance against the American player.

However, fans and netizens disregarded the pessimistic odds about Zhang Shuai, openly saying that Zhang Shuai had already stated she was there to learn from the young and powerful player’s advanced style, so the outcome was not important. “Since Zhang Shuai is so calm about it, we just sit back with popcorn and cheer for whoever plays brilliantly.”

Yet, once the match officially started, Zhang Shuai’s performance hardly resembled that of a learner.

Seeing Zhang Shuai jump to a 2-0 lead early on, viewers in the live chat joked that she wasn’t there to learn but seemed intent on taking everything home with interest.

Especially when Zhang Shuai reached 5-4 at a critical point in the first set and faced her own service game to close the set, many believed that if she could take the first set, the rest of the match would truly test Anisimova’s tennis intelligence and strength. If Anisimova continued to play so moderately, the biggest upset in the women’s singles at the China Open might really happen.

It is often said that the difference between top players and regular players is their ability to perform differently under pressure, especially by taking risks without worrying about personal losses or defeat, a quality vividly displayed by Anisimova.

The American’s reckless and aggressive style finally allowed her to find a good balance between high risk and high reward. After breaking Zhang Shuai’s service game to close the set, she surged ahead 6-2 in the tiebreak battle.

It was expected that the American would comfortably win the tiebreak, but unexpectedly, Zhang Shuai summoned a fighting spirit and reversed the situation by winning five consecutive games to lead 7-6 in the first set again.

However, Anisimova’s firepower always held firm at crucial moments. When Zhang Shuai missed a second chance to close out the first set, Anisimova ultimately won the tiebreak 13-11 in a thrilling finish.

The second set match was the most dramatic.

Beforehand, everyone thought Zhang Shuai would continue to battle Anisimova fiercely as in the first set. But after the gripping first set, Zhang Shuai seemed completely drained and went silent, losing the second set without winning a game and handing over the match.

From pushing Anisimova to the brink in the first set to collapsing from the start in the second, Zhang Shuai’s performance made many feel like one moment they were overjoyed in heaven, and the next moment they plunged into hell, overwhelmed with anguish. The stunning start and final outcome left fans and netizens utterly surprised, yet such dramatic ups and downs all happened to Zhang Shuai.

Still, some comforted others by emphasizing that Zhang Shuai was there to learn. Regardless of what happened during the match or the final result, this match against Anisimova surely benefited Zhang Shuai and fulfilled her pre-match goal of learning. “Looking at it from another angle, it’s not so frustrating.”

After Zhang Shuai’s exit, Zheng Qinwen once again became the sole Chinese female representative left in the singles draw at the China Open.

Although Zheng Qinwen’s supporters believe she has already beaten Noskova twice and has a strong chance to dominate the Czech prodigy at home, various external information indicates that Zheng Qinwen is not guaranteed victory this time.

From the bookmakers’ odds—1.73 for Zheng Qinwen and 21 for Noskova—while the Chinese top player is favored on paper, the advantage is not overwhelming. Many think the match is evenly poised, and whoever plays more consistently and better on the day will win. The odds have become mere decoration; the result will be decided by the slimmest margin.

Moreover, fans and netizens feel there is little optimism about Zheng Qinwen’s situation this time.

The reason is that Zheng Qinwen’s previous two wins over Noskova were on clay, her absolute strength. This is their first encounter on hard courts, which amplifies Noskova’s fierce attacking power and versatile tactics, naturally making it harder for Zheng Qinwen to advance.

Some even say that if Zheng Qinwen plays like she did in her debut match against Arango, her chances against Noskova are slim. Of course, Zheng Qinwen is not unprepared; she has recognized the threat her opponent poses and has emphasized early on that her team will contribute effective tactics. Her performance remains worth looking forward to.

The match between Zheng Qinwen and Noskova will start tonight at 7 PM. Will Noskova achieve revenge, or will China’s top female player claim a third consecutive victory? Stay tuned!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlight River Starry Sky)