Zhang Shuai’s singles journey at the Rome Open ended in a disappointing fashion, as she squandered an early lead to suffer a comeback defeat.
Zhang faced Li Jinyi in Rome, a rematch of their 2021 Australian Open encounter where Zhang suffered a straight-sets loss. This time, many viewed it as a chance for revenge, though questions lingered about how the 37-year-old Zhang would perform against the 29-year-old Li.
In the first set, Zhang looked unstoppable. Breaking Li’s serve early, she dominated proceedings to take the set 6-1, putting herself in a commanding position.
The second set was a rollercoaster of emotions. After such a strong start, Zhang’s supporters expected a quick finish. However, Li came out firing, racing to a 5-1 lead. Just when it seemed Zhang would lose the set, she fought back, winning three straight games to trail 4-5. But Li steadied herself, taking the set 6-4 to level the match.
The deciding set saw Li seize control early and never let go, closing it out 6-2 to complete the comeback. While Zhang’s high-low performance left some fans disappointed, given the 37-year-old’s age and the fact she pushed a player eight years younger to three sets, it was a significant improvement from her straight-sets defeat in 2021.
After the match, some consoled Zhang by noting that doubles is her stronger suit, and she could redeem herself there.
In a contrasting three-set battle, Zheng Qinwen also faced a tough test against Bondar. While her performance drew criticism for being lackluster, she managed to prevail largely due to her opponent’s errors. Afterward, Zheng rated her own performance a 6.5 out of 10, citing her slow start and occasional lack of focus under pressure as reasons. She noted that while her training focus was good, she still struggles to maintain it in match situations.
