French Open: China No 1 Wang Qiang edges Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei; No 2 Zhang Shuai out

Top-ranked Asian player in women’s singles after Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal faces Coco Gauff in rematch of Emilia-Romagna final

Zheng Saisai, China’s other remaining singles player, faces US teen and Serena Williams in women’s doubles first round

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China’s Wang Qiang serves to Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei during their first round match at Roland Garros. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:34am, 2 Jun 2021Updated: 11:34am, 2 Jun 2021

China’s No 1 tennis player Wang Qiang joined compatriot Zheng Saisai in the second round of the French Open after a hard-fought win over Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei on Tuesday.

The world No 39 – the highest ranked Asian player in the women’s singles at Roland Garros after Japanese world No 2 Naomi Osaka pulled out – needed three sets and nearly two and a half hours to overcome the world No 65.

Wang, fresh off a first final since 2018 at the French Open tune-up Emilia-Romagna Open, lost the first set 6-2 to the 35-year-old Hsieh.

She rallied in the next to win 6-4 before a 59-minute final-set battle saw the 29-year-old win 7-5 to take the match.

Wang Qiang returns the ball to Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei in their first round match. Photo: Xinhua

Wang’s reward is a second round rematch of last month’s Emilia-Romagna Open final with US teen sensation Coco Gauff.

The 18-year-old won that last encounter in Parma in straight sets – 6-1, 6-3 – and Wang will be looking for almost immediate revenge against the world No 25 and 24th seed at Roland Garros.