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Jonathan White

“I tried my best,” China’s Zhang Shuai said after her loss to Simona Halep in the women’s singles quarter-final at Wimbledon.
Zhang was 4-1 up in the first set before the former world No 1 came back to win 7-6 (7-4) and then take the second set 6-1.
“She found a really good rhythm after a few games.”
Zhang described Halep as a “great person” and a “hero in Romania” for her doubles and Federation Cup exploits with the nation.


“I think for our country, we really need someone like her,” Zhang said.
She also said that she liked Halep because the Romanian had been nice to her even when Zhang had beaten her.
The Chinese player had beaten Halep in their previous two meetings, but came unstuck despite a “really good start” on Tuesday.

A semi-finalist once again…@Simona_Halep defeats a spirited Shuai Zhang 7-6(4), 6-1 to make the #Wimbledon final four for the first time since 2014 pic.twitter.com/IVGkZ9Njxl
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2019

Zhang said she hoped the Romanian would go on to win this year’s women’s singles.
Halep faces eighth seed Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals, while Serena Williams takes on the unseeded Barbora Strycova in the other semi.


Williams beat fellow American Alison Riske 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to march to her 12th singles semi-final at the All-England Club.
On Twitter, Zhang also offered her congratulations to Halep. “You deserved the win and good luck in the rest of Wimbledon,” she wrote.
She had no regrets. “Really happy to have made the quarter-finals and play on court No 1,” she said.

Grass, I think I love you ️
What a battle today. #Wimbledon final four here we come pic.twitter.com/T36gCy8feV
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) July 9, 2019

“It’s amazing to reach the quarter-finals. My desire for victory has not changed. I have become very mature on the back of these successes and failures.”
Zhang had 29 unforced errors during the contest, while Halep had only 13, and the Chinese player ended the match on a double fault.
Reaching the quarter-finals was a personal best for a player who had never before won a match at SW19.

Congratulations @Simona_Halep , you deserved the win and good luck in the rest of @Wimbledon https://t.co/AtZeyYWlPS
— Shuai Zhang (@zhangshuai121) July 9, 2019

She had been beaten in the first round five times before this year and she was the only Chinese singles player involved in the second week of the 2019 championships.
Zhang also matched Li Na’s record of reaching the quarter-finals. China’s only grand slam winner made it to the last eight at Wimbledon three times.
“Nobody expected me to win at Wimbledon,” Zhang said, “but I made it this far.”


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Wimbledon

Wimbledon 2019: China needs someone like Simona Halep, says Zhang Shuai

Zhang Shuai and Simona Halep shake hands after their Wimbledon quarter-final. Photo: Kyodo

Wimbledon 2019: Simona Halep seeks ‘revenge’ as Zhang Shuai aims to better Li Na with semi-final spot

Zhang Shuai competes against Dayana Yastremska. Photo: Xinhua

(190708) -- LONDON, July 8, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Shuai celebrates after the women's singles fourth round match between Zhang Shuai of China and Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine at the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

(190708) -- LONDON, July 8, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Shuai of China hits a return during the women's singles fourth round match between Zhang Shuai of China and Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine at the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

(190709) -- LONDON, July 9, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Cori Gauff (L) shakes hands with Simona Halep after the women's singles fourth round match between Cori Gauff of the United States and Simona Halep of Romania at the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

(130703) -- LONDON, July 3, 2013 (Xinhua) -- Li Na of China reacts during the quarterfinal of women's singles against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland on day 8 of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, Britain on July 2, 2013. Li Na lost 1-2. (Xinhua/Yin Gang) (lm)

China’s Zhang Shuai wins Australian Open women’s doubles title alongside Samantha Stosur

Zhang Shuai and Samantha Stosur hold the Chinese flag after defeating Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic in the women’s doubles final at the Australian Open. Photo: EPA

epa07317379 Samantha Stosur of Australia (R) and Shuai Zhang of China (L) pose for a photograph with the trophy after defeating Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France in the women's doubles final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 25 January 2019. EPA-EFE/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Top-seeded Zhang Shuai reaches the semi-finals of Japan Women’s Open

Zhang Shuai is into the semi-finals of the Japan Women’s Open. Photo: Xinhua

China’s ‘country above all’ attitude comes at a cost for stars Wang Shuang and Zhu Ting ahead of Tokyo 2020

China head Coach Jia Xiuquan hands the ball to Wang Shuang during a Fifa Women’s World Cup match. Photo: Xinhua

(190424) -- WUHAN, April 24, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Lin Dan of China competes during a mens' singles match against Lu Chai Hung of Chinese Taipei at the BWF Badminton Asia Championships 2019 in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, China, on April 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)

(181210) -- SHAOXING, Dec. 10, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Ting (Top) of Vakifbank Istanbul spikes the ball during the final match between Vakifbank Istanbul of Turkey and Minas Tenis Clube of Brazil at the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang province, Dec. 9, 2018. Vakifbank Istanbul won 3-0 to claimed the title. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

China's Li Na poses with the trophy after victory in her women's singles final match against Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova on day thirteen of the 2014 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2014. IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE AFP PHOTO / GREG WOOD

China's volleyball national coach Lang Ping (RIGHT) and player Zhu Ting meet the press in Macau.

Nine-year-old earthquake survivor Lin Hao walks with China's national flag-bearer Yao Ming (R) during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium in this August 8, 2008 file photo. China's Olympic flag-bearer will be tall, handsome and famous to provide a positive image of the Asian sporting superpower, according to the team's deputy chef de mission. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen/Files (CHINA - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS)

epa07100716 Wang Shuang (C) of PSG celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening during the Women's Champions League round of 16, first leg soccer match between Linkopings FC and Paris SG at Linkoping Arena, Sweden, 17 October 2018. EPA-EFE/Stefan Jerrevang SWEDEN OUT SWEDEN OUT

Zhu Ting proves she is China’s biggest athlete at Hong Kong Volleyball Nations League

China’s Zhu Ting in action against Thailand during the 2018 Asian Games gold medal match. Photo: AP

epa07581831 RCD Espanyol's Wu Lei (C) celebrates with supporters who invaded the pitch after the team's classification for the Europa League following a Spanish LaLiga soccer match between RCD Espanyol and Real Sociedad at the Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella, Barcelona, Spain, 18 May 2019. EPA-EFE/QUIQUE GARCIA

(181210) -- SHAOXING, Dec. 10, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Ting (C) of Vakifbank Istanbul poses with her MVP trophy after the final match between Vakifbank Istanbul of Turkey and Minas Tenis Clube of Brazil at the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang province, Dec. 9, 2018. Vakifbank Istanbul won 3-0 to claimed the title. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

epa06990035 Former Chinese basketball player Yao Ming (C) joins Team China on the podium after they won the gold medals in the Men's and Women's Basketball 5x5 finals at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia, 01 September 2018. EPA-EFE/WU HONG

Soccer Football - 2018 Asian Games - Women's Gold Medal Match - Japan v China - JSC - Gelora Sriwijaya - Palembang, Indonesia - August 31, 2018 - Rin Sumida and Emi Nakajima of Japan in action with Wang Shuang of China. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Zhu Ting (back row, middle) helps her club win their back to back league championship

(2, Centre in yellow): Ting Zhu from China. China (yellow) versus Japan (red) in action at the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League, Hung Hom. 04JUN19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Sport

Tennis

Former world No 1 comes back from 4-1 down in first set to beat Chinese star
Zhang matches Li Na in reaching quarter-finals


Former world No 1 comes back from 4-1 down in first set to beat Chinese star.


WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

5050

Wimbledon 2019: China needs someone like Simona Halep, says Zhang Shuai

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Former world No 1 comes back from 4-1 down in first set to beat Chinese star Zhang matches Li Na in reaching quarter-finals

Former world No 1 comes back from 4-1 down in first set to beat Chinese star

Zhang matches Li Na in reaching quarter-finals