A day for the five "Golden Flowers" of Chinese tennis at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese tennis players showcased their talents at the Australian Open, each representing a different generation: 35-year-old Zhang Shuai, 30-year-old Wang Yafan, and 23-year-old Wang Xiyu.

Although they may not share the same level of fame as Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, these players are affectionately known as the "Golden Flowers," a term Chinese fans have used to honor women's tennis players since Sun Tiantian and Li Ting won gold in women's doubles at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

On Tuesday, the trio advanced to the women's singles second round, following in Zheng's footsteps.

Competing as a wildcard, Zhang delivered a commanding performance against American McCartney Kessler, who recently won the Hobart International. Zhang secured her victory in straight sets, marking her first Grand Slam win in two years.

"Look at my footwork and my form on the court. Do I look old?" said Zhang, who will celebrate her 36th birthday on Jan. 21.

Wang Yafan faced a tougher challenge. After dropping the first set to Hungary's Anna Bondar, she rallied despite battling leg cramps and wrist pain. At a critical moment, she replenished her salt levels. With her family cheering her on, Wang triumphed after more than two hours of intense play.

"Everyone wants to perform well at a Grand Slam; no one gives up easily," she said. Last year, Wang reached the third round at the Australian Open, her best performance to date.

The youngest of the trio, Wang Xiyu, had the smoothest match of the day. She took the first set against Austria's Julia Grabher 6-1. Despite a late surge from Grabher, Wang held her composure to win the second set 7-5.

"Every match has its ups and downs. Finding my rhythm quickly is something I need to improve," Wang said. Having won the U.S. Open junior title in 2018, she hopes to advance further after struggling in recent tournaments.

Despite their first-round success, all three players face formidable opponents next: Wang Xiyu will challenge eighth seed Emma Navarro of the United States, Zhang will take on 24th seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, and Wang Yafan will face ninth seed Daria Kasatkina of Russia.

Zhang remains undeterred by the challenge, confident that her recent win reveals untapped potential. "I want to set an example for younger players. I don't want the court to be filled only with those born in the '90s or 2000s."

Amid the victories, 30-year-old Zheng Saisai struggled in her return to the court after a three-year injury absence. She lost to Russia's Erika Andreeva but wowed the crowd with a behind-the-back shot. Now ranked outside the top 600, she faces the challenge of rebuilding her career.

"I enjoy sharing my experiences with younger players. Today's youth are eager to listen," she said.

Among the new generation, 21-year-old Wei Sijia faced a steep learning curve in her Grand Slam debut, losing to Italy's fourth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-0, 6-4.

"Losing the first set 0-6 happened because my mind went blank when I stepped onto the court. I didn't even know what I was doing," Wei said.

Born in 2003, Wei earned her place in the main draw by winning three rounds of qualification. In 2014, when Zhang Shuai made her Australian Open debut, Wei was still under 11 years old.

"Life is like a long journey. No matter how far I go, I must try-even if I don't reach the pinnacle, at least I've been there," Zhang said, addressing young players like Wei.

As the Chinese contingent continues its journey at the Australian Open, their determination and resilience promise an exciting future for women's tennis in China. ■