China’s Zhang Shuai marches into Tennis in the Land quarter-finals in Cleveland
- Zhang advances in the final tune-up event ahead of the US Open
Chinese No 2 Zhang Shuai completed a hard-fought straight-sets win over USA’s Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the round-of-16 of the Tennis in the Land event in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday night.
In an epic one hour and 50-minute clash, the 32-year-old from Tianjin battled through 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) against the American veteran.
Zhang did not face a single break point in the match, while Mattek-Sands saved 12 of the 14 she faced.
The victory set up a quarter-final clash against the seventh-seeded Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo on Thursday for Zhang.
The number nine seed in Cleveland this week, Zhang, has never before faced the world No 43 Sorribes Tormo, but will be looking for a 500th WTA victory when the pair meet.
Sorribes Tormo is enjoying a breakout year after sealing her first WTA Tour title win at the Abierto Zapopan in Mexico back in March.
Zhang, along with partner Lucie Hradecka, also faces a doubles quarter-final clash on Thursday against Christina McHale of the US and India’s Sania Mirza.
Zhang is looking for a 10th doubles title after her victory with Samantha Stosur in Cincinnati last weekend, the pair’s first title since the Australian Open in 2019.
The WTA 250 event is the final tune-up before the US Open begins at Flushing Meadows, New York, next Monday.
Zhang will be looking to go past the round-of-32 for the first time in New York.
