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Australian Open Shocker: Zuang Shuai’s Sudden Rise
6 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
The story of the Australian Open so far is Zuang Zhuai. The 27 year old Chinese veteran was winless in all fourteen of her previous major first round matches dating back to 2008. Late last year her ranking had dropped outside the top 200 and she admitted that she had forgot how to feel on the court and forgotten how to win a single point. Her confidence had crashed. At rock bottom and on the verge of quitting the sport (her parents traveled to watch her last possible pro tourney) Shuai entered the qualies of this Australian Open and eked into the main draw by narrowly edging Virginie Razzano in the last round of qualies. Then came the big shocker: Shaui beat no 2 seed Simona Halep 64 63 in the first round and that ignited the roll of her career – she beat Cornet Lepchenko and Keys and is now into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and has earned over $300 000 for her four victories. For this magical miraculous against all odds run Zuang Shuai is all the sudden a tennis hero and legend – and one of the most inspiring examples of dedication and determination we’ve ever seen in the sport.
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Hartt · January 25, 2016 at 6:14 pm
This is like a fairy tale. To beat several good players, one after another, after just getting through qualies. She said she’s played so many matches at AO she feels like she’s playing the final. I hope she can have continued success, and the prize money can’t hurt either.
Bryan · January 25, 2016 at 6:16 pm
LOL Keys lost. It happened to late and I went to bed at 2am after my man Isner got bounced by Ferrer. Anyhow, props to Zhang Zhuai. Underdog stories are always fun but this says much about how overrated Keys is as a top prospect.
Scoop Malinowski · January 25, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Shuai said she could never get her confidence going because she would always lose – the only way to get confidence is by winning – She also said a lot of the other players have come up to her and told her that her story is making them cry – also she feels better now because her parents are not putting too much pressure on her anymore – she said she told her parents she will retire if they keep pressuring her – interesting –
Scoop Malinowski · January 25, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Keys choked – she looked very very uncomfortable out there on court dealing with the pressure of the situation – Shuai was mentally tougher today – it was sad to see Keys crying as she left the court – she’s really nice girl but she has to be tougher than that – I think part of it is that Keys is too nice – she’s not a vicious ruthless killer out there – very talented and powerful but her mentality on court is more like a “gentle giant” – she reminds me of a female version of Todd martin – too nice to be the best –
Michael in uk · January 25, 2016 at 7:15 pm
It really is a lovely story, thanks so much for this, some nice details here, which I didn’t know until reading this.
Andrew Miller · January 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm
I thought by the way Keys played the first set the match was on her racquet. Goes to show the first set is just the first set. Zhang Shuai really started moving the ball and suddenly Keys was on the run, reacting instead of responding.
Keys groundies looked awful good in her Ivanovic match. Guess that win took something out of her and she underestimated Zhang Shuai. Heck of a fighter.
Nice storyline going. I almost feel as if Sharpie has a chance against Serena Williams. I think Williams is due for a letdown after such a huge 2015, but she is still the champ.