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Jonathan White

Chinese hopes at this year’s French Open took another huge hit on Friday night in Paris as almost all of the country’s doubles players saw their tournaments end in the second round.
That had been the case in the women’s singles earlier in the week – with China’s No 1 Wang Qiang and Zheng Saisai making it to the second round before bowing out.
On Friday night in Paris four of the five Chinese women’s doubles players were beaten as was the only Chinese woman in the mixed doubles.
Eighth seeds Zhang Shuai and Xu Yifan lost to Czech twins Karolina and Krystina Pliskova, losing after taking the first set on a tiebreak.

The unseeded sisters eventually won 6-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Xu also lost her mixed doubles second round game with partner Brendan Soares of Brazil. The No 4 seeds were beaten by Desirae Krawczyk of the US and Britain’s Joe Salisbury 6-4, 6-3.
Li Na’s French Open win opened the door for Chinese and Asian tennis
Back in the women’s doubles Wang Yafan and German partner Anna-Lena Friedsam lost in straight sets to the 14th seeds, Iga Swiatek (Poland) and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US). It ended 7-5, 6-3.
Yang Zhaoxuan and Japan’s Makoto Ninomiya were beaten by Petra Martic (Croatia) and Shelby Rogers (US), also in straight sets – 6-4, 6-3.
China’s sole remaining player Zheng Saisai, the women’s doubles 13th seed, is still to play her second round doubles encounter after beating Coco Gauff and Serena Williams in the opening round.


She and Australia’s Ellen Perez are still to meet Canadian duo Leylah Annie Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski but no time has been set for their match.
Elsewhere, the top seeded pair of Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Belgium’s Elise Mertens marched on. They are in the third round after a straight sets win over Amanda Anisimova (US) and Anastasia Potapova (Russia).
A decade on from Li Na making history at the French Open, where she became Asia’s first female grand slam winner, Chinese interest in the 2021 tournament looks doomed to end early with the players free to prepare for the grass season.


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French Open

China’s French Open hopes take a hit with doubles losses

Chinese pair Zhang Shuai (left) and Xu Yifan react during their 2021 French Open women's doubles second round loss to Karolina Pliskova and Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic. Photo: Xinhua

(210603) -- PARIS, June 3, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Makoto Ninomiya of Japan and Yang Zhaoxuan (R) of China celebrate during the women's doubles first round match against Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 2, 2021. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

French Open: China No 1 Wang Qiang edges Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei; No 2 Zhang Shuai out

China’s Wang Qiang serves to Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei during their first round match at Roland Garros. Photo: AFP

(210602) -- PARIS, June 2, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Wang Qiang of China returns the ball during the women's singles first round match against Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 1, 2021. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

(210602) -- PARIS, June 2, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Shuai of China serves during the women's singles first round match against Varvara Lepchenko of the United States at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 1, 2021. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

French Open: Coco Gauff beats Wang Qiang to end Chinese interest in singles

Wang Qiang of China in action against Coco Gauff of the United States in their second round match at the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros. Photo: EPA

United States's Coco Gauff celebrates after winning a point against China's Qiang Wang during their second round match on day 5, of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

(210603) -- PARIS, June 3, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Zheng Saisai of China competes during the women's singles second round match between Zheng Saisai of China and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

French Open: China’s Zheng Saisai reaches second round, Zhu Lin rues missed chances

China’s Zheng Saisai hits a return on her way to a first round win over Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo at Roland Garros. Photo: Xinhua

(210601) -- PARIS, June 1, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Zheng Saisai of China reacts during the women's singles first round match against Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, May 31, 2021. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

China's Zhu Lin returns the ball to Jessica Pegula during their women's singles first round tennis match on Day 2 at the Court 13 of The Roland Garros 2021 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on May 31, 2021. (Photo by MARTIN BUREAU / AFP)

Naomi Osaka: French Open, NBA stars back decision to pull out over mental health as world reacts

Naomi Osaka leaves the French Open after beating Patricia Maria Tig of Romania in the first round. Photo: EPA

China’s Wang Xiyu battles through for French Open debut

The official 2021 Roland Garros tennis ball pictured during a practice session ahead of the French Open. Photo: EPA

Sport

China

Tennis

Four of China’s five women’s doubles players out in second round with only No 13 seed Zheng Saisai still involved in Paris
Xu Yifan also loses mixed doubles with Brendan Soares as No 4 seeds beaten by Desirae Krawczyk and Joe Salisbury


Four of China’s five women’s doubles players out in second round with only No 13 seed Zheng Saisai still involved in Paris.


WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Li Na

China’s French Open hopes take a hit with doubles losses

Four of China’s five women’s doubles players out in second round with only No 13 seed Zheng Saisai still involved in Paris Xu Yifan also loses mixed doubles with Brendan Soares as No 4 seeds beaten by Desirae Krawczyk and Joe Salisbury

Four of China’s five women’s doubles players out in second round with only No 13 seed Zheng Saisai still involved in Paris

Xu Yifan also loses mixed doubles with Brendan Soares as No 4 seeds beaten by Desirae Krawczyk and Joe Salisbury