CCTV5 gave Zhang Shuai full recognition, with over ten top players withdrawing due to fatigue and injuries, and a wildcard granted to Serena Williams.

05/02/2026 12:46:00 PANDATV

Three minutes daily to catch up on global tennis news. Hello tennis fans, today is Thursday, February 5, 2026. Welcome to the noon news report brought to you by "Tennis Home."

At this year’s Australian Open in Melbourne, Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai partnered with Belgian Mertens to claim the women’s doubles championship. This marked Zhang’s first Grand Slam doubles title in seven years, making her the brightest Chinese highlight at this year’s Australian Open. After the match, CCTV5 sports channel specially produced a feature on Zhang, airing on “Sports Morning Report” for 7 minutes and 35 seconds.

This special program not only reviewed Zhang Shuai’s past Grand Slam victories but also highlighted her persistence and effort in singles over the years, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to Chinese women’s tennis.

After winning the Australian Open, Zhang Shuai quickly headed to Abu Dhabi in the UAE to compete, where she and her Spanish partner Bucsa defeated the Ukrainian Kichenok sisters 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of doubles, advancing to the quarterfinals. Kudos again to the 37-year-old Zhang Shuai!

Let’s turn to the wave of withdrawals. After the Australian Open, several top players and highly ranked competitors chose to rest due to fatigue and injuries, pulling out of upcoming tours. Among them, world No.1 and Australian Open singles runner-up, Belarusian Sabalenka, withdrew from the Doha 1000 event. Others confirming their withdrawal include Americans Pegula, Keys, Jovic, Japan’s Naomi Osaka, Ukraine’s Kostyuk, Swiss Bencic, Russian Kudermetova, German Lis, and French Bouzas-Maiguet.

Meanwhile, Australian Open men’s singles champion and world No.1 Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from the Rotterdam 500 tournament, along with world No.4, Germany’s Zverev.

Back to the courts. Last night Beijing time, the ATP250 Montpellier event in France entered its third day of competition. In the men’s singles second round, wildcard player Jeya, local veteran Mannarino, and qualifier Damm each won their matches to reach the quarterfinals.

In the remaining first-round matches, Swiss veteran Wawrinka, competing with a wildcard, defeated Serbian Medjedovic 7-6(3), 6-4 to advance in his tournament debut.

WTA500 Abu Dhabi: In the women’s singles second round, Philippine No.1 Irela overcame a 0-4 and 2-5 deficit in the deciding set, saving a match point to narrowly upset Belarusian Sasnovich 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), reaching the quarterfinals. Qualifier Belec eliminated 7th seed Ostapenko 6-4, 6-3 to secure a quarterfinal spot. Also advancing was No.2 seed Aleksandrova, who swept Ukrainian Yastremska 6-3, 6-0.

WTA250 Cluj-Napoca: In the women’s singles second round, No.4 seed and China’s second-ranked player Wang Xinyu defeated Swiss Masarova 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals. She will next face Ukrainian Orlikova. Top seed and Britain’s No.1 Raducanu beat Slovenian Juvan 7-5, 6-1 to secure her quarterfinal berth, where she will meet Poland’s Kwaralinska, who eliminated 7th seed Danilovic 6-1, 1-6, 6-2.

No.5 seed and defending champion Potapova came back from a set down to defeat Russian Zakharova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, winning her second consecutive three-set match. Ukrainian qualifier Snigur crushed No.2 seed Cristian 6-1, 6-0 to advance to the quarterfinals, where she will face Chinese rising star Yuan Yue.

WTA250 Ostrava: In the women’s singles second round, players Flavertova, Bolt, Parry, Batukova, and Kolpach all secured victories to reach the quarterfinals.

Here’s a breaking update. Early this morning Beijing time, the WTA250 Austin event announced it has awarded a main draw singles wildcard to American legend Serena Williams. The tournament is scheduled from February 23 to March 1.