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Jonathan White

China’s No 1 Zhang Shuai was left disappointed in the Viking Open final in Nottingham on Sunday, losing to Britain’s Johanna Konta at the Wimbledon warm-up.
Zhang, 32, lost in straight sets to the Briton – 6-2, 6-1. This was the fourth WTA title for the British No 1 but a first on grass and a first win after a run of four finals defeats.
The Chinese fourth seed was magnanimous in defeat, sending top seed Konta a message on Twitter.
“Congrats,” she told 30-year-old Konta, “You have done great job this week and very high level performance.”

Zhang also thanked the “many people who supported me” despite the disappointing end to a fine week, adding that she would “never stop [in trying] to be a better player”.
Tokyo 2020: Chinese ace Wang Qiang to skip Wimbledon to focus on Olympic Games preparation
Konta has now won five of her last six matches against Zhang. She can add the Viking Open final to the 2016 Australian Open quarters and the round of 32 at the 2019 US Open.
Despite victory Konta drops from world No 20 to No 30.
With former China No 1 Wang Qiang pulling out of the grass season to concentrate on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Zhang has passed her in the rankings.

She started the tournament as world No 46 but has leapt 10 places to No 36 after her exploits in Nottingham, leapfrogging world No 38 Wang.
Wimbledon starts in two weeks. Zhang’s best performance at SW19 was reaching the quarter-finals in 2019. The tournament was cancelled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.


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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

China No 1 Zhang Shuai loses Nottingham final to Konta

China’s Shuai Zhang reacts during the women’s final against Britain’s Johanna Konta. Photo: Reuters

Konta and Zhang embrace at the net after the Briton’s win. Photo: Reuters

Konta and Zhang pose for a photo after the final. Photo: Reuters

Tokyo 2020: Chinese ace Wang Qiang to skip Wimbledon to focus on Olympic Games preparation

China’s Wang Qiang is set to miss this year’s Wimbledon. Photo: Xinhua

French Open: Coco Gauff beats Wang Qiang to end Chinese interest in singles

Wang Qiang of China in action against Coco Gauff of the United States in their second round match at the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros. Photo: EPA

United States's Coco Gauff celebrates after winning a point against China's Qiang Wang during their second round match on day 5, of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

(210603) -- PARIS, June 3, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Zheng Saisai of China competes during the women's singles second round match between Zheng Saisai of China and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

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

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

(210602) -- PARIS, June 2, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Wang Qiang of China returns the ball during the women's singles first round match against Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 1, 2021. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

(210602) -- PARIS, June 2, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Shuai of China serves during the women's singles first round match against Varvara Lepchenko of the United States at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 1, 2021. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

China’s Wang Qiang loses to Coco Gauff to miss out on first clay title in Parma

Coco Gauff of the US in action at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, Italy. She beat China’s Wang Qiang in the women’s singles final. Photo: DPA

China’s No 2 Wang Qiang faces Coco Gauff in first career clay final

China’s Wang Qiang in action against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic at the 2021 Madrid Open in April. Photo: EPA

Sport

Tennis


Briton wins in straight sets for first grass trophy, maintaining hold over Chinese veteran with fifth win in six meetings
Despite defeat, Zhang jumps 10 places in WTA rankings, overtaking Wang Qiang as country’s top player, as Wimbledon looms



Zhang jumps 10 places in WTA rankings despite the defeat, overtaking Wang Qiang as China’s top player, as Wimbledon looms.


Wimbledon