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But the story of the week has been the
35-year-old Zhang, who entered the China Open on a 24-match
losing streak — the second longest in the Open era — and ranked
No. 595. She didn't drop a set in four matches this week.
The Chinese wild card had no answer, though, to Badosa's fast
start as the Spaniard made three service breaks to comfortably
claim the opening set.
It was much closer in the second set as Badosa found herself
down 3-1. She rallied and edged Zhang in the tiebreak.
The former No. 2-ranked Badosa will play No. 6 Coco Gauff or No.
115 Yuliia Starodubtseva, who play later Thursday.
Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals after four-time major winner
Naomi Osaka was forced to retire because of a lower back injury.
The American helped carry Osaka’s bags off the court.
Shanghai Masters
Italy's Matteo Berrettini bounced back from the disappointment
of an injury ending his Japan Open last week by squeezing past
Christopher O'Connell 7-6, (9) 7-6 (6) in the Shanghai first
round.
The Italian, who retired with an abdominal injury in the second
round in Tokyo last Friday, had his fitness given a stern
examination by the Australian in a lung-busting match lasting
two hours, 13 minutes.
Next up for the former Wimbledon finalist is No. 14-ranked
Holger Rune.
Other first-round winners included Marcos Giron, David Goffin,
Jaume Munar, Zhou Yi, Jakub Mensik and Miomir Kecmanovic.
The 32 seeded players received a first-round bye, including
top-ranked Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who
won the China Open against the Italian on Wednesday. Sinner
starts against Taro Daniel of Japan, and Alcaraz faces Shang
Juncheng of China.
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