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US Open (tennis)
SportTennis

Zhang Shuai withdraws injured from the US Open, with Chinese tennis star set to drop out of top 100 in latest setback

  • Flushing Meadows absence comes amid 16-match losing streak with the 34-year-old appearing to suffer an on-court panic attack last month
  • Zhang, who also broke down in tears after her French Open exit, is reportedly ‘mentally exhausted’ and has not been home to China in three years

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Zhang Shuai is set to drop out of the top 100 of the women’s rankings. Photo: AP
Nicolas Atkin

Zhang Shuai is set to drop out of the top 100 of the Women’s Tennis Association singles rankings after withdrawing injured from the US Open.

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It is the latest setback for the Chinese 34-year-old, who is on a 16-match losing streak in singles competition, and appeared to suffer an on-court panic attack last month.

Zhang retired in tears at July’s Hungarian Open, after local opponent Amarissa Toth erased a ball mark on the clay court following a disputed line call.

She had also broken down and sobbed at her post-match press conference after a quick first-round exit at the French Open in May.

“Shine in happy days and be strong in difficult days,” read a message posted on the French Open’s official account on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media platform “Wishing Zhang Shuai a speedy recovery.”

Zhang Shuai (left) retired in tears after her opponent erased a ball mark at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July 2023. Photo: Xinhua
Zhang Shuai (left) retired in tears after her opponent erased a ball mark at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July 2023. Photo: Xinhua

The fourth and final grand slam of the year is set to start at Flushing Meadows in New York on August 28.

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