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Jonathan White

China’s Zheng Saisai lost to Magdalena Frech of Poland at Indian Wells, ending Chinese interest in the women’s singles at the “fifth grand slam”.
World No 89 Zheng, 27, lost to the 23-year-old world No 106 in straight sets – 6-1, 6-4 – in an hour and 25 minutes.
Defeat ensured that Zheng followed Chinese No 1 Zhang Shuai in exiting in the first round of the singles in California.
Zheng now carries the flag for China in the women’s doubles after US Open champion Zhang lost her first round match, also on Thursday (local time).

MIRZA/ZHANG GO DOWN FIGHTING TO 3RD SEEDS AT INDIAN WELLS

Sania and Shuai saved 3 match points and fought back from 5-2 down in the super-tiebreak, but it wasn't enough as the top Japanese pair scraped past our pair

[R1] Mirza/Zhang l. (3) Aoyama/Shibahara 6-4 3-6 13-15 pic.twitter.com/fTokSai4xt
— Indian Tennis Daily (@IndTennisDaily) October 7, 2021

Zhang and doubles partner Sania Mirza of India lost their opening round, missing three match points in a thrilling contest with Japanese No 3 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara.
The Chinese-Indian pair – who had won the Ostrava Open in the Czech Republic late last month and have partnered for the last four events – were beaten 4-6, 6-3, 15-13.
Zhang Shuai dumped out in Indian Wells Masters singles opener
Aoyama and Shibahara were forced to work for their win by Zhang and Mirza with the match decided by a third set shoot-out.
Zhang and Mirza won the opening set 6-4 before Aoyama and Shibahara fired back 6-3 in the second set and edged the decider 15-13.
The Japanese ran into a 4-1 lead but Zhang and Mirza bounced back to take control but missed three match points in a topsy turvy third set that also saw them save two match points.

Zhang – who won the US Open women’s doubles with Samantha Stosur last month – could still make the WTA Finals in Mexico next month alongside the Australian.
Aoyama and Shibahara have already qualified for the event, which sees the eight best singles players and eight best doubles pairings invited to Guadalajara.
Zheng is now China’s only hope at Indian Wells as she plays the doubles with Britain’s Heather Watson.
Tough doubles draws for China’s Zhang and Zheng at Indian Wells
Besides Zhang, the only other Chinese players to travel were Wang Xinyu and Yuan Yue, both of whom lost their qualifying matches.
Zheng and Watson face the No 4 seeds Desirae Krawczyk of the US and Chile’s Alexa Guarani on Friday (local time) for a place in the second round.
Elsewhere, the all-teenage duo of Coco Gauff and US Open women’s singles runner-up Leylah Fernandez marched into the second round of the doubles.

Team teen titans @CocoGauff and @leylahfernandez roll past Begu/Voracova 6-1, 6-1.#BNPPO21 pic.twitter.com/ofsgAm7V7r
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) October 7, 2021

Gauff, 17, and Fernandez, 19, beat Romania’s Irina Begu and Russia’s Renata Voracova 6-1, 6-1.
All eyes will be on another teenager when US Open singles champion Emma Raducanu makes her return to the court after her success in New York.
Raducanu could face idol Halep or China No 1 at Indian Wells
The British No 1 plays Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in their second round match. Indian Wells wild card Raducanu received a bye to the second round after being seeded at No 17.
She could face her idol Simona Halep in the third round, with the Romanian playing Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk earlier in the day.
Kostyuk beat China No 1 Zhang in the first round.


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Simona Halep questions handling of her doping case after Iga Swiatek’s one-month ban

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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Indian Wells: Zheng Saisai out of singles, Zhang Shuai and Sania Mirza waste three doubles match points

Zhang Shuai of China serves to Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the 2021 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells tennis tournament. Photo: AP

(210601) -- PARIS, June 1, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Zheng Saisai of China hits a return 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 No 1 Zhang Shuai dumped out in Indian Wells Masters singles opener

Zhang Shuai was eliminated by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the opening round at Indian Wells. Photo: AP

Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, returns a shot to Zhang Shuai, of China, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Indian Wells: China’s Zhang Shuai and Zheng Saisai face tough doubles draws

China’s Zhang Shuai plays a shot at the 2021 Western & Southern Open. Photo: Aaron Doster/USA Today Sports

Victoria Azarenka beats China No 1 Zhang Shuai at Chicago Fall Classic

Zhang Shuai of China volleys the ball during the second set of her quarter-final match against Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain at the 2021 Cleveland Championships. Photo: AFP

Indian Wells: Raducanu could face idol Simona Halep or China No 1 Zhang Shuai in third round

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain hits a backhand against Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the 2021 US Open women's singles final. Photo: Robert Deutsch-USA Today Sports

Sport

China

Tennis


US Open champ and partner Mirza of India lose in three sets to Japanese No 3 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara
Zheng follows China No 1 in losing first round with defeat to Poland’s Magdalena Frech, faces No 4 seeds in doubles



US Open doubles champ Zhang Shuai and partner Sania Mirza of India lose in three sets to Japanese No 3 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara.


WTA Finals

Indian Wells: Zheng Saisai out of singles, Zhang Shuai and Sania Mirza waste three doubles match points

US Open champ and partner Mirza of India lose in three sets to Japanese No 3 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara Zheng follows China No 1 in losing first round with defeat to Poland’s Magdalena Frech, faces No 4 seeds in doubles

US Open champ and partner Mirza of India lose in three sets to Japanese No 3 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara

Zheng follows China No 1 in losing first round with defeat to Poland’s Magdalena Frech, faces No 4 seeds in doubles