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SCMP Sport

Agencies

China had six players in action at the Australian Open on Tuesday and three of them ended the tournament’s third day still alive in Melbourne.
Wang Xiyu got China’s five women off to a winning start when she beat Austria’s Julia Grabher in straight sets, needing just 80 minutes to progress 6-1, 7-5.
There was victory too for Wang Yafan, who fought back from losing the first set against Hungary’s Anna Bondar to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The world No 64 reached the third round last year before losing to compatriot Zheng Qinwen. She will next face ninth seed Daria Kasatkina.
Former world No 22 Zhang Shuai, who won the Australian Open doubles title alongside Samantha Stosur in 2019, then beat McCartney Kessler of the United States 6-3, 6-4.

For Zheng Saisai, however, the tournament is over, after she failed to recover from going behind against Russia’s Erika Andreeva, eventually losing 6-1, 7-6.
Zhang Zhizhen was the only one of China’s men in action, and he battled world No 13 Holger Rune all the way in a five-set epic.
The pair went back and forth on Margaret Court Arena before Rune emerged victorious, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 – the fifth five-set win at a grand-slam tournament in the Dane’s career.
In the final match involving a Chinese player, qualifier and grand-slam debutant Wei Sijia was brushed aside 6-0, 6-4 by women’s fourth seed Jasmine Paolini.
Wei offered little resistance in the first set as the Italian savoured a return to the grand slam that launched her golden season last year. But Paolini was given a proper workout by the 21-year-old in the second.
Paolini, who made the French Open and Wimbledon finals and qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals last year, had to raise her game, breaking Wei in the fifth game with a forehand return winner.

Wei saved a match point at 5-3 but Paolini served it out in the next game and soaked up the cheers of a strong Italian contingent in the crowd.
Also on the third day, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev destroyed his racquet and a net camera in a mid-match meltdown as he survived a huge scare against Thai wild card Kasidit Samrej to reach the second round.
Russia’s Medvedev whacked his racquet five times into the net after dropping serve in the third set before rallying to claim the match 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the afternoon sun at Rod Laver Arena.
The tantrum earned Medvedev a code violation for racquet abuse and held up play before the fourth set as staff swept up debris from the court.
In the end, the racquet rage was probably a net benefit for Medvedev, who used the pause between sets to regroup before steamrollering the world No 418 Thai in the final sets.
Teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, who eliminated Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong Chak-lam in the qualifying rounds, announced himself on the big stage by knocking out ninth seed Andrey Rublev.
The 18-year-old Brazilian is the hottest young property in men’s tennis after winning the Next Gen ATP Finals for players aged 21 and under last month. Against Rublev – winner of last year’s Hong Kong Open – he rose to the occasion superbly to win 7-6, 6-3, 7-6.

The men’s fourth seed, Taylor Fritz, made a strong start in his bid to end the 22-year grand-slam title drought for American men with a resounding 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 win over compatriot Jenson Brooksby.
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu beat Russian 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6, 7-6 despite the Briton making 15 double faults in a match that saw a combined 12 break points converted.


Zheng Qinwen drops down rankings as Australian Open winner Madison Keys re-enters top 10

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Shenzhen to host Billie Jean King Cup, switch reflects ‘incredible progress’, Zheng says

Australian Open, day 6: fired-up Novak Djokovic sends warning, Naomi Osaka bows out injured

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Australian Open day 3: three Chinese win, three exit – as Daniil Medvedev destroys racquet

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev smashes his racquet and a net camera during his match against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej. Photo: Reuters

China’s Zhang Shuai celebrates winning her match against McCartney Kessler of the US. Photo: Reuters

China’s Zhang Zhizhen leaves the court after his first-round loss to Holger Rune of Denmark. Photo: EPA-EFE

China’s Wang Xiyu is through to the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo: AFP

Shang injury update, China’s women take centre stage, ‘defective’ Olympic medals replaced

Jerry Shang could not get through two sets in his first round match against Alejandro Fokina. Photo: Xinhua

Zhang Shuai (left) warmed up for the Australian Open by playing in the United Cup, where she partnered Sun Fajing in the mixed doubles. Photo: Xinhua

James Anderson is not done with playing just yet. Photo: Reuters

Footballers leaving Hong Kong for mainland China warned of pitfalls by player who tried it

Hong Kong’s under-23 players celebrate their upset win over Iran in the Asian Games quarter-finals in 2023. Photo: Dickson Lee

Remi Dujardin in training ahead of playing for Hong Kong at the 2018 Asian Games. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Dujardin (second left) in 2018, with (from left) Matt Orr, Ngan Cheuk-pan and Chan Pak-hei. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Sport

Tennis

Chinese qualifier Wei Sijia beaten by No 4 women’s seed but Wang Xiyu, Wang Yafan and Zhang Shuai get through


Chinese qualifier Wei Sijia beaten by No 4 women’s seed but Wang Xiyu, Wang Yafan and Zhang Shuai get through.


Australian Open