China Open: Zhang Shuai stuns sixth seed Emma Navarro in Beijing with straight-sets win
After going 24 matches and 603 days without a win, Zhang now has two in the space of 48 hours
It took 603 days for Zhang Shuai to taste victory after losing to American Madison Brengle at the Lyons Open in January last year, she has now won twice in the space of 48 hours.
The former world No 23 plummeted to 595th during her historic 24-match slump, which she finally brought to an end on Wednesday with a hard-fought 7-6, 7-6, victory over McCartney Kessler in the first round of the China Open.
On Friday, she took down sixth seed Emma Navarro in Beijing, beating the US Open semi-finalist 6-4, 6-2 in front of small but raucous home crowd.
Zhang, who is the lowest-ranked player to ever compete in the main draw of her home tournament, will play Greet Minnen in the third round. The Belgian beat 28th-seeded Anastasia Potapova 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
The week is over too for China’s Wang Xinyu, who lost in three sets to Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
