Zhang Shuai achieves revenge and wins the title, accomplishing two personal milestones; the 36-year-old Chinese veteran sparks controversy over accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct

When Zhang Shuai triumphed smoothly in Yokohama, Japan, tennis fans and online followers once again praised the 36-year-old Chinese star enthusiastically!

Despite Zhang’s ranking and experience making her the clear favorite in a level-50 tournament like Yokohama, seeing that her final opponent was the Korean player Ku Yeon-woo made many hold their breath before the match.

In the recent Takasaki 100 tournament in Japan, Zhang Shuai, also the top seed, was widely regarded as the absolute favorite to win. However, she was surprisingly upset by the relatively unknown Ku Yeon-woo in the semifinals, missing out on the final and forcing her hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Australian Open main draw to be put on hold.

Therefore, their meeting in the Yokohama 50 final was seen by many as a classic revenge showdown.

Before the highly anticipated match, there were concerns about whether the 36-year-old Zhang would suffer the same physical setbacks she experienced in Takasaki. Moreover, with Ku Yeon-woo entering the final full of confidence and holding the psychological edge from her previous win over Zhang, many thought this revenge match might not go as smoothly for Zhang’s supporters as expected, and the outcome could still be uncertain!

Just as everyone expected Ku Yeon-woo to aggressively challenge Zhang from the first set and cause her some trouble, the Chinese star clearly anticipated this and was fully prepared for a tough battle.

When Zhang fell behind early in the first set with a break at 1-2, fans and viewers in the live stream worried whether the Chinese star would struggle to escape trouble, fearing a repeat of the Takasaki scene in Yokohama.

However, Zhang quickly reassured everyone by regaining her composure, breaking back, and then winning three consecutive games to take a 4-2 lead over Ku Yeon-woo.

Especially as the match progressed, Zhang’s opponent missed several chances to level the score, effectively ending any suspense in the first set, which Zhang decisively won 6-3, shifting all the pressure onto the Korean player.

Now under the greatest pressure throughout the match, many were eager to see how Ku Yeon-woo would respond to Zhang in the second set and what tactics she would employ to fight the Chinese star fiercely.

Contrary to expectations that Ku Yeon-woo would go all out against Zhang under pressure, her performance in the second set was actually weaker than in the first, giving an impression of collapsing under stress.

When Zhang reached a commanding 5-2 lead in the second set, fans and viewers in the live stream immediately thought: the championship is secured.

Zhang’s steady play afterward left Ku Yeon-woo hopeless, as Zhang sealed the match 6-2 in the second set, achieving a sweet revenge for her semifinal loss in Takasaki.

With this win over Ku Yeon-woo, Zhang Shuai also reached two personal milestones, earning widespread praise.

The last time Zhang Shuai was ranked inside the top 90 was in September 2023. Since her ranking declined steadily, many doubted she could return to the top 90 even if she re-entered the top 100. Unexpectedly, after winning the Yokohama title and gaining 50 ranking points from this level-50 event, Zhang’s ranking rose to 89, astonishing many fans and netizens.

Moreover, despite suffering a 24-match losing streak previously, which she ended at last year’s China Open, many believed it would be extremely difficult for Zhang to win two or more singles titles in the same season. Yet this year, Zhang captured three titles: Yokohama and Nottingham level-50 events, plus the Gifu 100 tournament, proving once again that she remains strong and resilient despite her age.

Although Zhang Shuai’s Yokohama 50 title earned her a fresh wave of fans, it also sparked debate about whether the Chinese star’s participation was unsportsmanlike.

Some critics pointed out that Zhang, ranked around 100, playing in an ITF level-50 event gives the impression of a strong player bullying weaker opponents — in plain terms, “this is a typical case of overpowering with no sportsmanship.”

Knowing full well that other players are far below her level, yet competing in such a low-tier tournament appears to deliberately take away others’ opportunities, and even if she wins, it feels unconvincing.

However, supporters argue that since Zhang’s participation in ITF 50 or WTA events complies with all rules, it cannot be considered unsportsmanlike. Although it seems like she reduces others’ chances of winning, Zhang’s status actually helps boost attention to the ITF event, ultimately benefiting the organizers and the ITF financially.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Sky)