Zhang Shuai through to fourth round at US Open
China's Zhang Shuai claimed a straight set victory over Canadian Rebecca Marino at the third round of US Open women's singles on Friday, before being paired with Mate Pavic of Croatia to advance into the mixed doubles second round. Zhang along with three other Chinese players - Wang Xiyu, Zheng Qinwen and Yuan Yue - had broken new ground by entering the women's singles third round together at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, 33-year-old Zhang also reached the last 16 after defeating the world No. 106 Marino 6-2, 6-4. Zhang won the two sets in 63 minutes and advanced into the fourth round of US Open singles for the first time, becoming the second Chinese player to achieve the last 16 at all Grand Slams after Li Na, two-time Grand Slam winner who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2019. The world No. 36 will take on in the next round American sensation Coco Gauff who beat compatriot Madison Keys 6-2, 6-3. Separately, Wang lost to American Alison Riske-Amritraj 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The 21-year-old Wang had earlier shocked world No. 3 Maria Sakkari of Greece 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, world number one Daniil Medvedev crushed the giant-killing dreams of Chinese player Wu Yibing with an emphatic victory. Medvedev, the defending champion at Flushing Meadows, eased past world number 174 Wu 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. In the mixed doubles, Zhang and Pavic, beat American duo Louisa Chirico and Bradley Klahn 7-6 (1), 6-3. Zhang and Pavic dominated the tiebreaker 7-1 in the first set and sealed the victory 6-3. In the second round, they will face another American pair Keys and Bjorn Fratangelo. Seventh seeds Xu Yifan/Yang Zhao Xuan moved to the third round of the women's doubles after defeating Swedish-Russian pair Rebecca Peterson/Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-4.  (Xinhua, AFP)______________________________
Last updated: 2022-09-03 HKT 18:25 