Zhang Shuai of China hits a return during the women's singles second round match against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia at the 2022 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai, 33, was upset by American rising star Coco Gauff, 18, in the women's singles round of 16 at the U.S. Open on Sunday.
NEW YORK, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- American 12th seed Coco Gauff battled hard to edge out Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai 7-5, 7-5 on Sunday, reaching the U.S. Open women's singles quarterfinals.
Two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Zhang broke first in the second game, but the 18-year-old Gauff returned two breaks soon to take a 4-3 lead in the first set.
Although the 33-year-old Zhang filled the gap in the eighth game, the world No. 12 took two games in a row after 5-5 to win the opening set 7-5.
The duo seesawed in the second set with Zhang broke first again. But this year's French Open finalist Gauff performed phenomenally with speed and strength, winning in 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals after one hour and 56 minutes.
Gauff will fight for a semifinal berth against French player Caroline Garcia. ■