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China Open: fairy-tale over for Zhang Shuai, Carlos Alcaraz has no time to celebrate title

History-making home hero finally runs out steam against Paula Badosa, whose fellow Spaniard was ‘running’ to Shanghai Masters after his win

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After winning every set in the previous rounds, China’s Zhang Shuai finally met her match in Paula Badosa of Spain in the China Open quarter-final. Photo: AP

China’s 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai has vowed to play on after her historic run in Beijing was ended by Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

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The 35-year-old Zhang, a two-time grand slam singles quarter-finalist who has been plagued by injury, arrived in Beijing on a run of 24 singles defeats in a row.

The painful losing run, stretching more than 600 days, was the second-longest on the WTA Tour in the open era, which began in 1968.

But the former top-25 player finally won a match to start her tournament and then rattled off three more victories to improbably reach the last eight, where former world No 2 Badosa beat her 6-1, 7-6.

Paula Badosa of Spain (right) hugs Zhang Shuai after winning their quarter-final in straight sets. Photo: AP
Paula Badosa of Spain (right) hugs Zhang Shuai after winning their quarter-final in straight sets. Photo: AP

With her fellow players including Badosa encouraging her not to give up, Zhang said: “Before my plan was to play more doubles, focus on doubles.

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