US Open: China’s only hope Zhang Shuai draws Hailey Baptiste as National Games keep tennis stars away

Chinese No 2 is country’s sole singles competitor as China National Games keep others away

Reigning champion Naomi Osaka faces Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in the first match of her 2020 title defence

2-MIN READ2-MIN

China’s Zhang Shuai in the women's double final of the 2021 Western & Southern Open. She will be the only Chinese player in the US Open this year. Photo: AP

Published: 10:33am, 27 Aug 2021Updated: 10:44am, 27 Aug 2021

Zhang Shuai will be the only Chinese player in either US Open singles draw when the final grand slam of the year begins on Monday.

The 32-year-old, who is set to overtake Wang Qiang as China’s No 1 women’s singles player when the WTA rankings are updated, has been drawn against Hailey Baptiste of the USA in the first round.

While China’s interest is limited to Zhang, who is also set to contest the doubles, there are several Asian players in the women’s main round draw.

They are led by third seed Naomi Osaka, who plays her first grand slam event since walking out of the French Open over concerns for her mental health.

Reigning champion Osaka, who played at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, has been draw against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in the first match of her 2020 title defence.

Osaka’s fellow Japanese players Nao Hibino and Misaki Doi are also in the draw. Hibino faces Fiona Ferro of France, while Doi has drawn Storm Sanders of Australia.