Monday was a special day at the Wuhan Open as two Chinese players faced off in the opening round, delivering a thrilling three-setter in front of the home crowd.
In the battle of the Shuais, China’s Zhang Shuai triumphed over Peng Shuai 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 on centre court to set up a second round with Johanna Konta of Great Britain.
For those who don’t remember, Zhang is the qualifier who was ranked No133 in the world and made it all the way to the Australian Open quarter-finals last January, after having never made it past the first round at any of her 13 previous grand slam appearances.
She had considered retiring from tennis just a couple of months before that run in Melbourne and now she China’s No1 player, ranked 38 in the world and rising.
Zhang didn’t just steal people’s hearts with her fairytale story, but her warmth and charisma are undeniable, and yesterday, she gave the world even more reason to fall in love with her.
Zhang Shuai in press on Monday (Credit: Visual China Group)
Turns out, she had given her fans free tickets to attend her match in Wuhan and here’s why she did it.
“I really want to thank them. Some of those fans, they don’t have too much money, so I think to come to the stadium is not that easy financially for them. I don’t think all of them can afford tickets,” she explained.
“I want to allow them to have the chance to watch my game, and that’s why I give tickets to them for free…
“I received financial assistance from others that was important for me. Because of them I can be what I am now, and that’s why I want to help others.”
What a class act!
Anabel Medina Matchmaker
Elsewhere, Simona Halep told us the unusual story behind her doubles partnership with Jelena Ostapenko this week in Wuhan.
Halep does not typically play doubles and finds it tough to adapt to.
“It’s not easy for me to play doubles. It’s different. For me it’s a different sport, different angles, different everything. I don’t like to play that much. But my coach says that I have to play to improve, so I have to listen,” she said.
Turns out, her compatriot Monica Niculescu had asked her to play doubles with her this week and Halep agreed. Niculescu ended up reaching the final in Seoul and pulled out of Wuhan.
“I just put my name there on the list. (Anabel) Medina Garrigues came to me and asked if I wanted to play with Ostapenko, and I said yes,” said Halep.
Does she know her Latvian teenage partner?
“Not really. We say hello, stuff like this, but not much,” she replied.
“I hope we will have fun tomorrow and just to try to improve our game, not playing for the score or result.”
Who knew Medina Garrigues was a matchmaker?
