Zhang Shuai: The Injustice of Montreal

This year's trip to Montreal should be considered Zhang Shuai's most unjust experience, related to three incidents!

The first incident: being forced to withdraw from the Cincinnati 1000 qualifying tournament!

Previously, Zhang had reached the finals in Washington, aiming for the doubles championship at this 500 event. This was the first time Zhang had to withdraw from the Montreal 1000 qualifying due to a scheduling conflict, raising concerns about whether such a situation would occur again.

The reason is that although Zhang Shuai and Townsend are partnering for the first time, their on-court chemistry is reminiscent of old friends. If they were to debut at the Montreal 1000 doubles event, and if they could maintain such performance, Zhang would likely face the dilemma of whether to withdraw from the Cincinnati 1000 qualifying and whether to prioritize singles or doubles.

Unexpectedly, the dilemma indeed came true! However, this time the challenge arose earlier than in Washington, as Zhang had to make a decision before she was certain of reaching the women's doubles semifinals.

In the end, Zhang chose to pursue the Montreal 1000 doubles championship. Many people expressed that if she failed to win this 1000 event, it would be incredibly cruel of fate towards Zhang. This is because she not only gave up the opportunity to qualify for the Cincinnati 1000 main draw but also missed a chance to narrow the gap with the singles TOP 100 rankings. If she ended up empty-handed, those who understand would know the frustration she felt.

Unfortunately, this time Zhang did not experience a perfect night like in Washington's 500 event, ultimately missing out on the Montreal 1000 doubles championship.

Although Zhang still wore a smile after the match, the subtle expressions on her face revealed the inner grievances she could not express.

The second incident: facing three opponents alone in the finals!

Before the outcome between Gauff and Kessler was decided in the doubles championship match, the bookmakers had Zhang's pairing at 1.57, leading Gauff's pairing at 2.25, supporting the former to come out on top.

I initially thought that with the buildup from Washington and Montreal leading to the finals, Zhang and Townsend would cooperate perfectly as they approached the championship. However, the American girl faltered at a crucial moment.

From the start of the first set, Townsend's performance was problematic; not only could she not effectively cooperate with Zhang, but she also severely hindered Zhang's performance, turning this vital match into a fight against three opponents. If it weren't for Zhang's outstanding performance, considering Townsend's poor showing, they wouldn't have even reached a tiebreak; after two sets, Gauff and Kessler would have already been celebrating their victory.

How frustrating was Townsend's performance? One netizen summarized: "Too many basic errors; the American girl frequently faltered, while Zhang desperately tried to save the situation!"

Thus, some remarked that if Townsend hadn't made so many significant mistakes, given that the two finally found their rhythm in the second set and achieved a score of 6-1, Zhang's team would have already won in two sets. Even if they couldn't secure the match in two sets, they would have had a great chance to win in the tiebreak, as Gauff and Kessler's performance was not flawless; they had their vulnerabilities too.

"If the American girl made fewer mistakes, the championship would definitely have been theirs, and Zhang wouldn't have had to suffer such a huge loss from withdrawing." Some expressed.

The third incident: being excluded from the list of speakers at the award ceremony!

After Zhang and Townsend lost to Gauff and Kessler in the finals, many were curious about what Zhang would say during the award ceremony.

When Townsend finished speaking, everyone expected it to be Zhang's turn, but unexpectedly, there was no mention of the Chinese player. The event organizers directly deprived her of the right to speak as the doubles runner-up, causing an uproar.

The reason this incident caused outrage among many fans and netizens is simple: they felt Zhang was treated unfairly, which was a direct disregard for her presence.

Additionally, the host did not provide any reminders, leaving Zhang awkwardly standing aside, which further ignited the anger of many, who claimed it was too much.

Some stated that Zhang, being the best performer among the four in the doubles final, was ultimately denied even a chance to give an acceptance speech. Looking back at previous Montreal award ceremonies, such a situation had never occurred before.

Moreover, some pointed out that if no one was given a chance to speak, it could be understood, but the fact that only Zhang was an exception was simply outrageous.

The award ceremony is considered the greatest injustice Zhang faced in Montreal this year, also related to another reason: her name was omitted from the screen listing the runners-up, with only the American girl Townsend displayed. Given all this, it's no wonder fans and netizens spoke out for Zhang!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River's Starry Sky)