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Jonathan White

China’s No 1 Zhang Shuai is out of the US Open women’s singles after being beaten by British teenager Emma Raducanu in their second-round match in New York, but Zhang marched on in the doubles.
Zhang, who is the only mainland Chinese player at the final grand slam of the season after her compatriots chose to compete in the China National Games, was well beaten as Raducanu won in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
Wimbledon breakout star Raducanu, who was born in Canada to a Chinese mother and Romanian father, raced into an early lead against the world No 49.
After winning the first set, the world No 150 went 4-0 up in the second, before there were signs of a fightback from 32-year-old Zhang.

Zhang won the next three games but the 18-year-old held on to reach the third round – and match Zhang’s career best – on her first appearance at Flushing Meadows.
“That match meant so much to me on a personal level,” Raducanu said after the match. “I wanted to win so, so bad.
Who is Britain’s Chinese-Romanian teen tennis star Emma Raducanu?
“I knew there was going to be adversity at some point in the match and, honestly, I was 6-2, 4-0 up but I was having to work so hard for every single point, and the games, they were very long and challenging.
“The scoreline was saying one thing, but the level of tennis we were both playing I think was suggesting a completely different story.
“It didn’t really bother me that she came back because I knew that she’s a great player, she’s extremely experienced, she’s going to throw everything she had at me. So I’m just very proud of myself for overcoming that and managing to close it out at the end.”

So appreciative to everyone out there for the continued support ️ R3 https://t.co/iOmHaqD6AC
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) September 2, 2021

Zhang had won their only previous meeting, which came earlier this summer at the Silicon Valley Classic in Raducanu’s first match since her breakthrough performance as a wild card at Wimbledon.
The Briton moves on to meet Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round after she beat Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei. Raducanu has not dropped a set through her three qualifying matches and two main draw matches.
“I’ve had five matches here in New York, so I feel very comfortable with the conditions and the courts,” said Raducanu.
Wimbledon star Raducanu set to smash it off the court
“I’m getting more and more used to it and each round I feel I’m going for my shots more, and today I think that was evident. I think I’ve come a very long way since my first qualifying match here, but also since the first tournament of this trip five weeks ago.
“Playing at the tour level for so many weeks in a row definitely builds your confidence and I’ve been fortunate enough to win quite a few matches.”
Zhang followed her singles defeat with victory in her women’s doubles first round match alongside Australia’s Samantha Stosur.

Rising
The NYC spotlight is on @EmmaRaducanu in her main draw debut.
The 18-year-old arrives at the #USOpen third round without dropping a set, defeating Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-4. pic.twitter.com/R5N4oNwz50
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) September 2, 2021

The No 14 seeds, who won the Western & Southern Open last month in Cincinnati, beat Jil Teichmann and Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-0.
Zhang will also partner Australia’s John Peers in the mixed doubles, where they face top seeds Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Nicole Melichar of the US.


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US Open (tennis)

US Open: Emma Raducanu beats China No 1 Zhang Shuai in second round

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain returns against Zhang Shuai of China during her women's singles second round match at the 2021 US Open. Photo: AFP

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 02: Shuai Zhang of China returns against Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during her Women's Singles second round match on Day Four of the 2021 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2021 in New York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Wimbledon teen star Emma Raducanu set for breakthrough off the court

Britain’s Emma Raducanu celebrates winning her third round match against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. Photo: AP

China's Eileen Gu waves to the camera after competing in the women's halfpipe skiing qualifiers of the U.S. Grand Prix and World Cup on Friday, March 19, 2021, at Buttermilk Ski Area in Aspen, Colo. (Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times via AP)

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

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

British teenager Emma Raducanu wins Wimbledon Breakthrough Award

Britain’s Emma Raducanu attends a press conference after beating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the third round at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. Photo: AFP

US Open: China No 1 Zhang Shuai faces Emma Raducanu after Hailey Baptiste win

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain looks on against Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland during her women's singles first round match at the 2021 US Open. Photo: AFP

Chinese tennis has stalled since Li Na won French Open; Wang Qiang’s Tokyo 2020 stance shows unwillingness to ‘fly solo’

Li Na kisses the championship trophy after defeating Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia at the 2014 Australian Open. Photo: AP

Sport

China

Tennis

Teen gets immediate revenge on world No 49 to face Sara Sorribes Tormo in third round on New York debut
China’s only player at US Open moves into women’s doubles second round with Samantha Stosur


Teen gets immediate revenge on world No 49 to face Sara Sorribes Tormo in third round on New York debut as China’s only player at US Open moves into women’s doubles second round with Samantha Stosur.


WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Emma Raducanu